What's The Trick?

Emmy Award-winning writer Brent Forrester reveals what really happened inside the writers’ rooms of The Simpsons and The Office, from the pressure of pitching jokes to the techniques used to generate unforgettable stories.

He also explains how to create a genuinely collaborative environment, why great comedy begins with vulnerability and why aspiring artists should stop waiting for permission to make their work.

If you want to learn how to become a professional tv comedy writer, this episode breaks down what actually works.

This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation

Check out our sponsor, the Podcast Rooms for all of your video podcast needs: podcast-room.com

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About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.

About the podcast:
"What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.

Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.

🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin

📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/

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FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin

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🎤 FOLLOW BRENT:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrestercomedycourse
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@brentforrestercomedy
Website: https://www.brentforrester.com/about

How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Lewis reveals how a late-night production performed to tiny audiences grew into The Play That Goes Wrong, a West End phenomenon that has now reached more than 50 countries. He shares the persistence, testing, creative collaboration and business decisions behind Mischief’s success and explains why finishing an imperfect idea is often more valuable than waiting for perfection.

This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation

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About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.

About the podcast:
"What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.

Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.

🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin

📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/

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FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin

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🎤 FOLLOW HENRY LEWIS:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/henrylewis

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What is this episode about?
This episode explains how to create a global hit theatre show.

How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Zerdin shares the truth about winning America's Got Talent, revealing how 25 years of preparation, relentless refinement and calculated risks led to one of the biggest moments of his career. Sharing the reality of Las Vegas and burnout to building world-class performances that work anywhere, this is a conversation about success, creativity and what it really takes to stay at the top.

This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation

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About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.

About the podcast:
"What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.

Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.

🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin

📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/

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FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin

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🎤 FOLLOW PAUL ZERDIN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@paulzardin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulzerdin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thepaulzerdin
Website: https://paulzerdin.com/

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How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of "What’s The Trick?", Ben Hanlin sits down with Derren Brown to explore how to create a psychological hypnosis show.

If you want to develop your performing skills, this episode breaks down what actually works.

This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation

About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.

About the podcast:
"What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.

Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.

🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin

📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/

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FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin

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🎤 FOLLOW DERREN BROWN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OfficialDerrenBrown
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/derrenbrown/
Website: https://derrenbrown.co.uk/

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What is this episode about?
This episode explains how how to create the best live performance.

How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of "What’s The Trick?", Ben Hanlin sits down with Warrick Brownlow-Pike to explore how to become a professional puppeteer working for Jim Henson and The Muppets.

If you want to improve your character work, this episode breaks down what actually works.

This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation

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About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.

About the podcast:
"What’s The Trick?" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.

Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.

🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin

📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/

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FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin

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🎤 FOLLOW WARRICK BROWNLOW-PIKE:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WarrickBP
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/warrickbp/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@warrickbp
Website: https://brownlow-pike.co.uk/

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What is this episode about?
This episode explains how to be a creative puppeteer.

How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.