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The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe

486: Jason Ladayne—Nothing Up His Sleeve

5/26/20261 hr 54 min

Mike sits down with master card mechanic and sleight-of-hand expert Jason Ladanye, whose impossible demonstrations of gambling moves and psychological deception have earned him a reputation as one of the best card handlers working today.

Jason explains how a childhood obsession with cards—and an influential mentorship with legendary magician Darwin Ortiz—shaped his career performing around the world.

Along the way, Jason shows Mike how magicians secretly track cards through a shuffled deck, demonstrates the art of bottom dealing, and reveals why the real secret behind great magic isn't fast hands—it's storytelling, conviction, and understanding exactly how people think.

And of course, there are several mind-blowing demonstrations of his ability.

Follow Jason on Instagram and see him LIVE at an upcoming show.

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Clips

Show After Mentor's Death
Busting The Amateur Cheat
Cheating Is A Felony
Bottomless Pit Of Experts
Deck Even In Bathroom

Transcript preview

First 90 seconds

  1. Mike Rowe· Host0:00

    [upbeat music] Hey, it's Mike Rowe. This is The Way I Heard It. My guest today is Jayson LeDany. If I sound a little nonplussed, it's because ... I know, it's LeDany. [laughs] Just, I'm seeing if you're paying attention.

  2. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:13

    I was totally paying attention, dude.

  3. Mike Rowe· Host0:15

    Well, look, the first thing I do is apologize to the guy for mispronouncing his name wrong in my mind for the last two years. I think he forgave me. This guy, I guess he's a magician.

  4. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:24

    Card technician.

  5. Mike Rowe· Host0:25

    Mechanic.

  6. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:26

    Card mechanic, that's, I think that's the proper term, yeah.

  7. Mike Rowe· Host0:29

    Yeah. I stumbled across him on the internet on a lazy, rainy Thursday morning a couple years ago, just scrolling around.

  8. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:38

    Yeah.

  9. Mike Rowe· Host0:39

    And I saw him do something with a deck of cards. It just defied credulity.

  10. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host0:45

    Yes.

  11. Mike Rowe· Host0:46

    [laughs] You know? And you play cards- Yeah ... and I play cards- Yep ... and I know some tricks and whatever. I've seen the best. I've seen, you know, Richard Turner- Mm-hmm ... and I've seen, I, it ... I mean, I was just so blown away by his skill- Yeah ... and his attitude.

  12. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host1:03

    Mm-hmm.

  13. Mike Rowe· Host1:04

    Jayson LeDany, he's so mean to the people who follow him.

  14. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host1:08

    [laughs] Yes.

  15. Mike Rowe· Host1:08

    And that he's a- To the skeptics who challenge him and say, "You know, you're cheating.

  16. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host1:13

    You know, it's trick photography or whatever."

  17. Mike Rowe· Host1:15

    But it's delightful because as abusive as he is [laughs] to his many, many followers, he has their permission to be so- Yeah ... because he's that good.

  18. Chuck Klausmeyer· Host1:25

    Totally.

  19. Mike Rowe· Host1:26

    I think the one I sent you, he tracked an ace and pulled four

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