Meet Dr. Kevin Spencer | Artist | Educator | Researcher

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Kevin Spencer and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dr. Kevin, how do you think about risk?
Risk is an inherent part of any successful endeavor. Whether in business, personal growth, or creative pursuits, taking risks often leads to innovation, learning, and progress. I’ve found that success typically comes from stepping outside your comfort zone, making calculated decisions despite uncertainty, and adapting to challenges. The key is managing risk rather than avoiding it—assessing potential downsides, mitigating harm, and being prepared to pivot when necessary.

I’ve come to believe that you can never be completely certain a decision is right until you make it. But what’s just as important is being directionally correct—starting on a path that aligns with where you ultimately want to go. Stephen Covey wrote that we should begin with the end in mind. And through it all, one guiding principle has always stuck with me: success is a marathon, not a sprint. Building something meaningful takes time, persistence, and a willingness to adapt along the way.

When I considered a career in the performing arts, I had to recognize that the arts are deeply intertwined with risk—but that’s what makes it so rewarding. Unlike more traditional career paths, the arts don’t come with a guaranteed roadmap—success is often unpredictable, and rejection is a regular part of the journey.

Managing risks requires the development of a strong skill set, collaborating with those who have already achieved success in the industry, building a network of relationships, and embracing rejection as a learning experience and a step closer to success.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My career has taken so many twists and turns over the years, and looking back, I could have never predicted where this journey would lead. My wife and I started four decades ago with a small, cabaret-style show, performing on college and university campuses across the country. From the very beginning, our approach was always personality-driven rather than trick-driven—while the magic itself was strong, we believed that true audience connection came through personality. That mindset led to a series of incredible honors, including Campus Entertainers of the Year, Best Variety Artists, and Performing Arts Entertainers of the Year (for 6 consecutive years).

As the show grew in both size and scope, we transitioned from college campuses to performing arts centers. It wasn’t exactly starting over, but it did require adapting our strategies to meet a different market. Along the way, we rebranded from The Magic of Kevin Spencer to Spencers’ Theatre of Illusion, evolving into a high-energy fusion of rock & roll and Broadway. The production struck a chord with audiences worldwide, and through it all, personality remained the heart of the show.

For more than 20 years, we were the largest theatrical touring illusion show in the U.S., traveling the world and performing on some of the most spectacular stages in the USA, Europe, and Asia. Along the way, we were honored as the 2009 International Magicians of the Year and received the 2015 Illusionist Award from the Milbourne Christopher Foundation for our contributions to the art of magic.

It had been an incredible journey, but in 2015, we decided to retire the illusion show and shift our focus to using magic in a completely different way. By that point, we had experienced two very distinct seasons in our lives, and we were preparing to step into a third.

As an artist, I believe it’s essential to grow, adapt, and evolve—to follow your passion wherever it leads. For me, that meant transitioning from the big stage to classrooms and hospitals around the world, dedicating myself to exploring the educational and therapeutic applications of simple magic tricks.

I shifted my focus entirely to using magic as a tool to create meaningful change in the lives of individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual challenges, emotional disturbances, and trauma histories. What started as a passion for performance has now become a mission—one that continues to inspire and challenge me every day.

The one constant through all of this? The confidence and support of my wife…and my faith and trust in God.

Right now, my focus is on sustainability and legacy, particularly with the Magic Therapy program and the Hocus Focus project. To ensure these projects continue to grow and make an impact, I’ve partnered with education and medical researchers around the world to ground this work in robust scientific research. Along the way, I earned a PhD in Special Education, obtained certifications in Autism and Neuropsychology, and completed additional studies in Neuroscience.

I’ve also built strong collaborations with organizations like the U.S. Department of State, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Harvard Teaching Hospital. Additionally, I’ve been fortunate to contribute to Boston Children’s Hospital’s “Pediatric Sedation Outside of the Operating Room” conference, further expanding the reach of this work.

My research has been published in prestigious journals, including the American Journal of Occupational Therapy (AJOT) and the Journal of Learning Through the Arts (JLTA). It has also been featured in prominent media outlets such as the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), The Washington Post, Taipei Times, and Chicago Tribune.

I’ve been honored to receive recognition for my work in magic therapy and education. In Inside Autism (2013), I was referred to as “The Kid Whisperer” for my innovative approach. More recently, I was named the 2024 Visionary Educator of the Year by ELITEX Magazine and received the 2024 Silver Anthem Award for Nonprofit Leader of the Year in Health.

My therapeutic program, Magic Therapy™, was awarded the 2023 Gold Anthem Award for Best Innovation in Health, while my educational program, Hocus Focus™, earned the 2022 Silver Anthem Award for Best Innovation in Education, Arts, and Culture—with me also receiving Gold for Leader of the Year. In addition, I was a 2022 finalist for the Zero Project Award, which recognizes groundbreaking initiatives that benefit individuals with disabilities.

I am widely considered the leading international expert on the educational and therapeutic benefits of learning and performing magic tricks – which honestly, is kind of crazy. I’ve had the opportunity to share my work on major television programs, including the CBS Early Show and Fox & Friends, as well as on international broadcasts like CNN Türk and Saba Tümer (Türkiye).

Most recently, I published my first book, Teach Like a Magician, and I have a draft manuscript for the first of a three-book children’s series on a very special magic club that prominently features a young magician with disabilities. I also have at least two more books in mind—one sharing my road adventures and another focused on the magic therapy program. It’s an exciting chapter, and I look forward to seeing where it leads next.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I’m honest, this a tough question to answer. I’m on the road about 35-38 weeks of the year so I’m more familiar with other destinations than I am the place where I live! If you’re looking for awesome places to eat or hang out in Ft. Lauderdale, Sante Fe, Nashville or Istanbul, Yekaterinburg, or Berlin I can point you in the right direction! But in my hometown, I’m more comfortable and relaxed in my home surrounded by family.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Like any meaningful journey, ours has been shaped by many incredible people, but none more so than my wife, Cindy. She has wholeheartedly embraced my dream as her own, offering support every step of the way. Her strength, faith, and dedication have been at the heart of our success, and I’m endlessly grateful for her selflessness and commitment. Even now, she remains deeply involved in my work, which makes this experience even more special. Building something meaningful is rewarding—but building it with the person you love most is truly extraordinary.

Pursuing a career as a magician isn’t exactly the most conventional path, so I have to thank my parents for their encouragement—and understandable concern—when we took this leap into the unknown. Success in any profession is never a solo achievement; it takes a team of talented and dedicated individuals. A huge amount of credit goes to the brilliant Jim Steinmeyer, whose creative genius allowed us to bring incredible feats of impossibility to the stage for the very first time. Our collaboration with Joanie Spina, who directed and consulted on our show, pushed our performance to an entirely new level. Beyond that, our production team, assistants, and crew who traveled the world with us became like family, making the entire journey even more rewarding. And, of course, none of this would have been possible without the audiences who showed up, bought tickets, and embraced the art of illusion live on their stages.

As I stepped into this new magic-centered journey in education and healthcare, I was fortunate to have some incredible people by my side, helping me grow, learn, and push my work in new directions. Dr. Susan O’Rourke opened doors into higher education, giving me opportunities I never expected. Dr. Keira Mason introduced me to the idea of using simple magic tricks as a tool in pediatric sedation, expanding the impact of magic in healthcare. And Dr. Gavin Jenkins enthusiastically backed the Magic Therapy program and launched Magic Camp, a therapeutic experience for children and adolescents with disabilities, as an annual program in the occupational therapy department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Their support and belief in this work have meant the world, and I’m so grateful to have them on this journey with me.

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