Category Archives: pop culture

Why YOU Did Your New Year Resolutions Wrong!

Posted on January 1, 2026 | 3 comments

Good morning and welcome to the next year of your life. YOU did your resolutions wrong. Whether you wrote about them online, posted them on Facebook, or just said them aloud to your friends, you did it wrong. “I want to lose ten pounds,” or maybe you said, “I want to be more organized in 2026! Perhaps you might have gone the “I’m going to learn something new!” route. Regardless, you were wrong, wrong, WRONG! Yes, that last wrong was said in frustration at you. At the whole human race in fact.

Last night I was watching one of those insipid New Year’s Eve countdown shows and they had clips of about fifteen different celebrities saying their resolutions. These were famous, talented people who have displayed their skills for the world to see. Surely people like this must have grand goals they aspire to, right? Nope. They wanted to lose the same ten pounds as you and “live more in the moment” in 2025. Ugh. Snoozefest. Zzzzzz Zzzzzzz Zzzzzzz. That was me last night dozing off because I was bored with the whole human race and their pathetically small aspirations.

What is wrong with people? Does no one aspire to greatness anymore? Does no one want to change the world, or even conquer it in some fashion? We’ve grown from a single cell organism to creatures that travel to outer space and have phones that can reach anyone anywhere on the planet at any time! Our history is filled with dreamers that wanted to achieve greatness just because they could! But this year, I didn’t hear any of them.

Guess what everybody? We only get one New Year beginning every year. Why squander it dreaming small? You know the old saying: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss you’ll die without oxygen in the void of space you’ll land among the stars.” If you set some mundane goal, you’ll never be excited about achieving it.

Here are my goals for 2026:

  1. Be chosen as Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. Seriously, if Blake Shelton can win it, then it’s obviously open to anyone.
  2. Have one of my books achieve best seller status and sell the movie or TV rights.
  3. Resume doing stand-up comedy. Get my own special on Netflix.
  4. Sit down with Donald Trump , Vladimir Putin and Volodmymyr Zelensky and tell them all to grow up and act like adults. Then I will broker a peace treaty between the countries.
  5. Get all my psychic predictions right and be acknowledged as the world’s greatest psychic who is consulted by world leaders. (This one may have to happen before #4.)

There. That’s how you set goals! Now get off your lazy asses, lose ten pounds AND change the world! Are you with me? If you are, put one of your ‘shoot for the moon‘ goals in the comments for all the world to see.

Have a great Thursday and an even better 2026! ~Phil

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Unusual New Year Traditions from All Over The World

Posted on December 31, 2025 | 2 comments

Pic from Fodor’s Travel

Universally New Years night or New Years Day means the same thing to everyone, except the Chinese, who do the same thing, but based on the Lunar year, and it’s a different date. Seems kind of snooty to me. That’s why I haven’t visited China yet. The rest of the world is on the same page as far as the date goes, but in other countries they celebrate the holiday in wildly different ways!

Spain and other Spanish speaking countries: In Spanish speaking countries the locals eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Years Eve. Each grape represents good luck for each month of the upcoming year. Fortunately they didn’t choose grapefruit or watermelons!

Pic from The Economic Times

Denmark’s Plate Smashing Tradition: In Denmark it’s customary to throw dishes at your friends door on New Years Eve. The more broken dishes on your doorstep, the more popular you are. This is exactly why I don’t have any Danish friends.

Pic from SFGate

Japan’s Temple Bells Ringing: In Japan temples ring the temple bells 108 times at New Years Eve midnight to symbolize the 108 human sins in Buddhist belief. People gather to listen to the bells, hoping to leave the past behind. They only believe in 108 sins?!!? Have they not seen the internet yet?

South Africa’s Furniture Tossing: In some parts of South Africa it’s not uncommon for people to throw old furniture out their windows on New Years Eve. This act symbolizes letting go of the past and embracing the new. Coincidentally, hundreds of pedestrians are killed by falling furniture every New Years Eve.

Apparently Ecuadoreans are not fans of cartoon characters either

Ecuador’s Scarecrow Burning: In Ecuador, people create life-sized scarecrows, known as “Anos Viejos,” representing the old year. (there is supposed to be an accent over the n in Anos, but I don’t know how to do that). At midnight the Ecuadoreans light their effigies on fire, symbolizing burning away the past. Maybe if some Ecuadoreans visited South Africa on New Years day they could take care of all the New Years Eve furniture on the sidewalks.

Pic from The Nomad Today

Finland’s Predictive Metal Casting: It’s called Tinanvalanta. In Finland people predict the coming year by melting tin horseshoes and casting them into cold water. The resulting shape is believed to foretell a person’s future – a heart shape signifies love while a ship may mean travel. I have a similar tradition where I dip a chip (crisp) in some melted cheese and it foretells me eating a tasty chip.

Pic from Greek Herald

Columbia’s Empty Suitcase Stroll: Columbians take an empty suitcase and walk around their block at midnight, hoping it will bring travel and adventure in the coming year. I wonder how many couples break up because one actually took their suitcase and just kept going until they got to the airport?

Philippine’s Round Food Feast: Filipino’s believe that eating round fruits on New Years Eve bring prosperity and wealth in the coming year. How many shapes does food come in? Are there any parallelogram foods?

Pic from Big 7 Travel

Russia’s New Years Eve Divination: In Russia, it’s a tradition to write down a wish on a piece of paper, burn it, and then mix the ashes with a glass of champagne. They believe that drinking their burnt wishes will bring fulfillment of their wish. Apparently someone in Russia wished for a long, awful war.

Pic from Visit Scotland

Scotland’s First Footing: In Scotland the “First Footing” tradition involves being the first person to enter a friend or neighbors home home after the stroke of midnight, bringing symbolic gifts like coins, bread, salt, and whisky for good luck. Although I am a quarter Scottish, please don’t show up at my house at 12:01 this coming Sunday night. I’ll call the cops.

Have you noticed how destructive and dangerous most of these traditions are? It’s like half of them were concocted by pyromaniacs.

Happy New Year’s eve! I hope that you  have a great evening! Thanks for reading! ~Phil

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The New Year’s Eve Guide For Boomers!

Posted on December 30, 2025 | 3 comments

I’m not quite a Boomer, but I’m in line outside the Boomer stadium. Congratulations! Your Pontiac Fiero has taken you past the threshold of normal adulthood. Now as a bona fide Boomer, you’re faced with the perplexing challenge of navigating New Year’s Eve like an adult adult. (yes, I meant to say adult twice) Fear not boomer-in-training; I’m here to help you gracefully waltz into the new year without tripping over your slip-on Skechers. (BTW, Skechers feel free to contact me if you’d like to sponsor The Phil Factor.)

1. The Wardrobe Dilemma: Pajamas or Actual Pants?

So you invited neighbors Barb and George over for drinks and watching the apple, ball, or sponsored logo drop in Times Square. Now you face the age-old question of what to wear. As a Boomer, the struggle is real—do you opt for the sophistication of actual clothes or succumb to the allure of cozy pajamas? The answer: both. Consider rocking the “business casual on top, party on the bottom” look. That way, when the clock strikes twelve, no matter where you are, you can triumphantly kick your guests out and declare, “I’m ready for bed!” It’s your living room and you can damn well wear whatever you want. Pro tip: pajama jeans! (Also Phil Factor sponsor opportunity available)

Pic from MarketWatch.com

2. Decoding the Art of Adult Conversations

Gone are the days of discussing the latest video games or keeping up with current music. As a Boomer, your conversations now revolve around mortgage rates, the stock market, and the enigma that is Boomering. (Yep, I invented the verb “Boomering” copyright pending.) Navigate the party small talk with poise, dropping gems like, “Have you diversified your investment portfolio lately?” or “Here’s how I get more calcium in my diet…” That’s always a crowd pleaser.

Pic from X.com

3. The Midnight Toast: A Symphony of Wine Glasses

Let’s be honest, we’re probably not staying up until midnight, right? But we can pretend we are and toast at 10:00. In our twenties, the midnight toast involved questionable shots and clashing beer mugs. Now, as a Boomer, it’s all about the symphony of wine glasses clinking together. Pro tip: choose a wine that pairs well with Boomering, like a robust red that complements the complex flavors of your frustration with the internet and “kids these days.”

4. Crafting Resolutions: From Skydiving to Financial Savvy:

While your younger self might have resolved to skydive or backpack across Europe, your grown-up resolutions are more practical. Consider pledging to finally organize  your decades old junk drawer, conquer the art of meal prepping, or become a master at assembling IKEA furniture without a single leftover screw.

5. Countdown Contemplations: Balancing Excitement and Responsibility

As the countdown commences, the challenge is to balance the excitement of the impending new year with how much stress you think your heart can tolerate. Take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments, like successfully adulting your way through tax season or paying for your daughters wedding in Maui.

Pic from Insider.com

6. Champagne Popping Mastery: No Eye Injuries, Please!

Boomers pop champagne with the finesse of seasoned sommeliers. Ensure a smooth and injury-free cork release by holding the bottle at a 45-degree angle, gripping the cork firmly, and twisting the bottle—not the cork. Remember, no one wants to start the new year with a champagne-induced black eye. Pro-tip: If you go cheap enough, you can find champagne with a screw cap. Don’t worry, Barb and George won’t know the difference and they may be dozing off on your couch by this time

7. Post-Celebration Recovery: The Hangover Survival Kit

In our twenties, a hangover was a badge of honor. As a Boomer, if we made the mistake of one too many drinks, it’s a serious matter that requires a well-prepared survival kit. Stock up on electrolyte-infused beverages, pain relievers, and a gourmet breakfast delivery service, because pancakes delivered to your door are the epitome of Boomer luxury.

So there you have it—the essential guide for Boomers navigating the temporary, whimsical world of New Year’s Eve. Remember, being a Boomer doesn’t mean losing your sense of humor; it just means you’ve upgraded from partying all night to laughing about it the next day. Here’s to embracing the chaos, celebrating the wins, and proving that being a Boomer can be as hilarious as it is rewarding.

Cheers to Boomering in 2026! Thanks for reading and Happy New Year! ~Phil

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The Ten Best Christmas Movies, Let the Debate Begin!

Posted on December 25, 2025 | 6 comments

Every holiday season I post this list and it evolves based on readers suggestions and new movies that come out. If you have favorites that didn’t make the list please add them in the comments section and maybe you’ll influence next years list.

10. Christmas Vacation (1989) Added to the list this year by popular demand in response to last years Top Ten is Christmas Vacation, which knocked The Nightmare Before Christmas off the list. What do you think? Should a different movie have been taken off the list? Christmas Vacation fun fact: The assistant director of Christmas Vacation is the grandson of the director of It’s a Wonderful Life.

1Scrooged (2)

9. Scrooged: (1988) A modern re-telling of the Charles Dickens classic starring Bill Murray. I think that even Dickens would agree that this is way better than the original.

8. The Family Man (2000) Starring Nicholas Cage and Tea Leoni. Most people don’t think much of Nicholas Cage, but in this movie he nails the role of an investment banker, who through a Christmas miracle, is shown the path not taken in his life. I like this one so much that it knocked Die Hard off the list. If you haven’t seen it, go watch it and come back here and tell me what you think.

Santa Clause(2)

7. The Santa Clause: This 2004 movie starring Tim Allen screamed instant classic the first time I saw it. Also, any movie that includes Judge Reinhold is a must watch.

love-actually-original-soundtrack-cover

6. Love Actually: (2003) This is the best Christmas movie there is about stodgy British people trying to get it on, but it’s a favorite with the ladies, so it made the list. Around the holidays the ladies get what the ladies want.

Polar Express(6)

5. The Polar Express: (2004) Tom Hanks is a better actor as cartoon character.

evilbuddy_400x400

4. Elf: (2003) Starring Will Farrell, this is the most quotable of all holiday movies. “I just like to smile. Smiling’s my favorite.” or “Buddy the Elf. What’s your favorite color?” What’s your favorite Elf quote? Put it in the comments

miracle-on-34th-street-3x3

3. Miracle on 34th Street: (1947) I’ve never watched the color version and I don’t plan to. I’ve loved this one since I was a kid, especially the brilliant court scene when Santa’s lawyer wins by having the postmen deliver the letters to Santa. That was the last time the post office delivered anything on time for the holidays. Also, has anyone else noticed that the entire movie is about the lawyer guy trying to get with the little girls single mom?

A Christmas Story(2)

2. A Christmas Story: (1983) It is right and just that TBS plays this movie for 24 hours straight every year.

Its-a-wonderful-life

1. It’s a Wonderful Life: (1946) Yes, I’m an old sentimental fool. I still love it every time when Mary is hidden in the bush and has lost her robe and George says, “Now this is a very interesting situation.” Who doesn’t wonder where the movie might have gone had his friends not pulled up in the car at that moment. Bow bow chicka chicka… Also it’s pretty cool to me that the town of Bedford Falls is based on a small town in upstate New York that I drive through all the time.

Ok, that’s my list. What do you disagree with? What movies would you put on the list?  And don’t forget those Elf quotes! Have a great Sunday! ~Phil

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That Time I Almost Won Survivor

Posted on December 17, 2025 | Leave a comment

Possibly me…

Every year when the new Survivor season ends I always wonder, “what if…”  What if that was me winning #Survivor?

Let’s take a little trip in the way back machine. It was September of 1999. The internet was so new that I was still getting a newspaper made out of actual paper! I’ve always been an avid sports fan and the first thing I’d do when I got my Sunday paper was to check the box scores from the Saturday college football games.

On page 2 of the sports section, I found a small classified ad looking for people to volunteer to be part of a filmed game show where contestants would spend a month on a remote island competing for ONE MILLION DOLLARS! 

This is how my inner monologue went: “I grew up camping in tents with my family every summer. I’m outdoorsy! I can’t eat pickles or mustard, but I’ve got no problem eating anything else. I know how to fish, so I can feed myself. I’m a young-ish man in decent shape. I spent a few years in college taking broadcasting classes, so I’m comfortable on camera. I can do this!  This is a no brainer. For a million bucks I can outlast a group of dolts on an island and parlay my new found stardom into a successful show biz career!”

Survivor Season 1 cast. Look at those dolts! I could have easily won.

With my inner voice cheering me on I began typing the email to the casting director at CBS, all but certain that I was on the road to riches and stardom. And then I talked to my wife…

How many men reading this know how that conversation went?

This is not me or my wife.

Her reply, which was justified, was “you’re not going to leave me home alone for a month with three young kids.” That was a fair response. I couldn’t argue with that.

Don’t we all have those “what if” moments in your life where you look back and wonder how your life could have been different? #Survivor is low on my list, but… what if?

Had I won that first season of Survivor you’d be listening to ThePhilFactor podcast and remembering how bad I was when they put me on Dancing with The Stars. Sure, I could eat the hell out of a dead racoon, but doing the Flamenco with Kathy Bates? …not so much. Maybe I’d be cohosting Survivor with what’s his name? You’re all tired of him by now, right?

So, in the comments, what’s your “what if?” moment that you wish you had a second shot at?

Have a great Wednesday and think of me when you’re watching Survivor!

Thanks for reading!~Phil

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Music Monday! Adam Sandler and The Hanukkah Song

Posted on December 15, 2025 | Leave a comment

A timeless classic. I’m not Jewish, but I still love this song. Happy Hanukkah to all my friends who are lighting candles this week, and happy Monday to everyone else! Thanks for stopping by! ~ Phil

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Ten Reasons to Hate The Holidays

Posted on December 8, 2025 | 8 comments

“You’re a mean one Mister Grinch. You really are a heel. You’re as cuddly as a cactus, you’re as charming as an eel, Mister Grinch. You’re a bad banana with a greasy black peel.”

Yup, that’s me, king of sarcasm and hater of all things jolly. I’m not saying that there aren’t things to love about the holidays. There are plenty, but c’mon, if we’re truly being honest, there are a lot of things to hate about the holidays. Here’s my top ten. (Btw, tomorrow I’ll post Ten Reasons to Love The Holidays.)

10. The holidays mess up our Amazon orders! As much as we all love Amazon, there’s nothing more frustrating than the holiday season when our orders don’t always make it to us on time.

9. Candy Canes? Yes, candy canes are one of the worst parts of the holiday season. They are delicious and I love them, but I also hate them. Candy Canes are so ridiculously sticky that after the first refreshing hit of minty-ness, you realize that your lips and fingers are covered in a demonic sticky substance.

Pic from The Jewish News of Northern California

8. Having two major religious holidays during the same month is confusing! They are both great holidays, but why can’t we have them happen at the same time, or better yet, merge them into one holiday? I never know if I should be saying Happy Hannukah or Merry Christmas. Think about it, Christmas celebrates the birthday of a certain Jewish carpenter, so why not just pick a week and call it HanChristNukahMas? Also, if you want to read an awesomely funny novel about Jesus growing up as a teenager, read Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal.  Before you buy that book, you should read my interview with the author Christopher Moore. One of the nicest people I’ve ever met in my years of blogging.

Pic & recipe can be found at Back To The Book Nutrition

7. The Nog Shortage: Much like the Fall Pumpkin Spice influx, the winter holiday season is everything nog this and nog that. It’s hard to find a beverage that doesn’t offer a nog flavored option. But if you like nog, you’re screwed about 8 weeks later. Apparently nog is such a rare and valuable commodity that it can only be offered for a limited time. I’m going to get rich by drilling a nog well in my backyard and then selling my nog at outrageous prices. I will also have a Nog Blog.

That’s a perfect pic and you can find an article about why we shouldn’t buy gifts for adults HERE

6. Buying Gifts for Adults: I came up with this idea on my own and found the above pic and USA Today column when I looked for a pic to match my Scrooge-like idea. Once you’ve been in a relationship for awhile, haven’t you either bought yourself whatever the hell you wanted to, or bought each other anything you each need. My wife and I just skip gifts and promise to buy each other whatever bauble strikes our fancy on the next vacation.

5. Holiday movies set in southern California: I hate them because the people always look so happy to go outside and hang lights on their palm trees. Jerks. They’re just flaunting their warm weather and lack of snow. If you want a holiday movie to make me happy, how about one where a bunch of So-Cal people are stranded by an avalanche in the Santa Monica mountains and they have to eat each other to survive.

4. Jack Black in The Holiday: I have enjoyed Jack Black’s work in many films, but this isn’t one of them. He’s the least convincing romantic character since Silence of The Lambs.

3. Commercials: I’ve never walked out to my driveway to find a car with a bow on it. I’ve seen versions of this commercial since I was a kid, setting me up with unrealistic expectations.  Look, Bill Gates, I know you and your wife donate millions to charitable causes; just once could you skip a few mosquito nets and vaccines and have a Lexus delivered to my driveway?

2. Inconvenience: From now until January 2nd, leaving your house is going to be more inconvenient than usual. Just going out for groceries is now a Herculean task. Everything and everywhere have more people trying to do the same things.

This above scene is happening everywhere all the time right now. What is wrong with people?

1. Santa Claus: And you thought they’re milking the Batman and Spider-Man characters for all their worth? St. Nick hasn’t changed in centuries! Jeez, get that guy a cape and some superpowers. How awesome would that be if he had a nemesis that was out trying to stop him from delivering presents. God has the devil, Batman has the Joker, why can’t Santa have a nemesis?

Please put your holiday pet peeves in the comments. As always, if you enjoyed #ThePhilFactor don’t be a Grinch and share it by hitting the Facebook button below. Have a great Saturday and come back tomorrow for Ten Reasons To Love The Holidays! ~Phil

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Why Does The Slab City Tree of Souls Continue To Haunt Me?

Posted on November 10, 2025 | 4 comments

Back in 2013 when I was promoting my next novel, The Sneaker Tree, I’d post a picture of one of these “Sneaker Trees” that occur all over the world. Once within minutes of one of those posts @pkninjaz, Jazmin, a complete stranger from the other side of the country sent me the picture above. It is a picture of the Slab City, California shoe tree known as the Tree of Souls.

Ever since that blog post in 2013, I’ve gotten a steady stream of views of my post. It’s not the most popular thing I’ve ever written, but for some reason it never goes more than a day or two without a few reads. So I’m finally curious enough to want to figure out why.

That picture above is from Slab City, California. Slab City, nicknamed The Last Free Place in America is an unincorporated , off the grid area in the Sonoran Desert that is home to artists, bohemians and people seeking an alternative lifestyle.

That all sounds pretty cool, right?  According to website LiveThatAdventure.com  Slab City “is a crazy mixture of Mad Max, a post apocalyptic town, and an art museum.” 

As I said earlier, I could probably live there. I like artsy people and stuff. Reportedly, there are about 150 year round residents and about another 150 or so snowbirds that show up in the winter months.  The only thing keeping me from moving there is the “waste” situation. Slab City has a sewage system but no one knows where it goes. Some residents just have their own outhouses. Some have RV’s and they just drive to wherever to empty their tanks.

In the middle of the territory is a hill called East Jesus that one man turned into a place of worship.

East Jesus

Slab City seems like somewhere for me to visit and feature on my travel blog. Who wants to come with me?

Anyway, like I said, for some reason a lot of people want to know about that place regularly. Also, my book The Sneaker Tree is still for sale on Amazon and it’s literally Stranger Things but I wrote it long before someone made it into a Netflix series. I didn’t realize that until a book promoter hit me up and made the comparison.  Btw, Stranger Things is coming back Nov. 26, but who wants to watch it now. Too long of a break, we’ve lost interest. Also the kids are all about 40 years old and have kids of their own. Netflix, you’ve jumped the shark on this one. Yeah, that’s right, I’m bringing back “jumped the shark.”

Thank’s for reading. Have a great week! ~Phil

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My Feral Childhood: Part 2

Posted on May 25, 2025 | 4 comments

The whole Goonies movie could have happened to me and my childhood friends as we explored the woods surrounding our neighborhood. That movie captured the feeling of a summer in Twin Acres when I was a kid. So where was I leaving off in yesterday’s post…oh yes, that time I almost lost an eye to a big sword!

Actually this event happened in 1981 in high school, but the way it was handled was very 70’s. Maybe that was because my teachers were also 70’s parents. I was in tenth grade and on a normal day I walked into the classroom. As I walked in another student was swinging a Lord of The Rings sword and the tip of the sword caught my face about a quarter inch from my eye, leaving a little cut. I don’t have any recollection of being sent to the nurse or of the other student being sent to the principal. He had brought the sword in as part of some project. That was the 70’s/80’s for you. You could walk right into school with a lethal weapon and the excuse that “it’s for a project” always worked.

French Fries to Die For? Who doesn’t love salty french fries? But if you’re a kid, you can’t exactly drive to McDonald’s. So what do you do when you’re home without supervision during summer vacation? Of course you pull out the electric vat full of grease and throw some fries in! It was just me and my younger sister at home. I was about 14 and my younger sister was probably 12 and way too overconfident in her cooking skills. She started the fries and at some point she pulled back on the handle of the basket in the grease. The whole thing full on boiling grease overturned on her arm/hand. Did we call 911 or our parents? No! Of course not! There was no 911 back then! Kids in the 70’s clean up their own messes. I think I bandaged her hand that was shedding skin like crazy.

It’s stuff like this that made me write my novel “The Sneaker Tree.” Although the novel is an ode to the adventures of my childhood, the neighborhood and the great friends I was lucky enough to have, it’s also a fun, suspenseful ride that’s been compared to Stephen King novels. I honestly didn’t go into writing this blog post to sell my book, but I’m very nostalgic and I enjoy what I think was a wonderful time to grow up in a small town.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy a nice Memorial Day if you’re in the States. ~Phil

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The Other Phil Factor?

Posted on April 1, 2025 | 2 comments

That picture is not me. Hard to believe I know. Going back to the early days of Google search it always bugged me when I’d Google my own blog and the first name on the list was ThePhilFactorMagic.com. It wasn’t every time. Sometimes I was at the top of the Google list and other times it was him. For a while I was irked, but I got over it and decided to bring our impressive forces together to break the internet. I emailed the other Phil Factor and asked him to be a guest on my blog for it’s 20th anniversary.

Me: You are a professional magician with decades of experience and success. How did you first develop an interest in magic as a career?

The Magical Phil Factor: As most Magicians it started when I was young. My Grandfather showed me a classic trick called “nickels to dimes”.  He gave me the trick and a magic book for my birthday.  Needless to say my Mother suffered through my attempts at performing magic tricks for her.  Some good and some terribly bad.  After seeing my first ever live performance by a magician in my early twenties I got seriously hooked.  At that point I dove into learning and performing as much as I could.  After months of non-stop practice, I ventured out and began busking for my own experience and growth as a performer.  Here I am 27 years later still doing what I love.

Me: Did you consider or work in other jobs before “Magician” became your full-time title?

The Magical Phil Factor: Yes, I served a four year tour of duty in the United States Air Force from 1989-1993 during Desert Storm and Desert Shield campaigns. When I got out of the military, I worked for Coca Cola my entire career while maintaining a side hustle performing magic at corporate, private and public events. Last year I finally decided to leave my job with Coca Cola and pursue Magic full time as my only income.

Me: First off, thank you for your years of military service. Secondly, you worked at Coca-Cola? Lol, I worked for Pepsi for four years in college. That’s an interesting synchronicity. Apparently all Phil Factors like carbonated beverages. So, tell me, what makes your magic show different?

The Magical Phil Factor: I believe what makes my magic different is my 50/50 approach.  I try to be entertaining and funny just as much as presenting mind blowing sleight of hand magic. People seem to respond well and really enjoy it as entertainment.  Rather than feeling tricked or fooled they can laugh and also be amazed.  I want them to walk away saying “That was a fantastic and entertaining show!”  Not, “How did he do that trick?”  I would much rather give people a lifelong,  joyful memory of that time they experienced The Phil Factor!

Me: That’s exactly how I approached dating in my 20’s!

Me: So what’s your best trick?

The Magical Phil Factor: I don’t know if it is my “best” trick. That’s subjective to each audience that bears witness, but it is one of my favorites that I am proud of and perform often. I call it “Dixie Chick”.  I created this routine with heavy inspiration from one of my good friends and fellow magician Doug Brewer.  Any magic performances that are my own creations are my favorite and suit my personality best.  It feels more authentic and translates to an audience in a genuine way.

Me: Who is your favorite magician?

The Magical Phil Factor: Without question, my favorite magician is David Williamson!  He is a comedic genius who performs diabolical magic.  Combining his chaotic, insane comedy antics with incredible magic leaves people breathless.  He was my introduction to learning magic from a professional magician and heavily influenced my choice of material and how I perform it.  He truly is one of a kind and the reason I fell in love with magic. He’s an incredible gift to the world of magic.

Me: Thanks Phil, I really appreciate you sharing your magic with my readers. I occasionally get to So-Cal, so the next time I go, I’ll look you up and see your show. Feel free to pull me into one of your tricks!

Thanks  for reading! Have a magical day! ~ Phil

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