My mother was really loving and wonderful and tough as hell.

It is the unspoken ethic of all magicians to not reveal the secrets.

For me, it's about risk taking, taking things in new directions. Because every single time, no matter how much you learn, you can never say, "Okay, I did the hardest thing I ever did. I'm prepared now. Now it's going to be easy." Of course it's not easy.

For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really work at it. I love competing and winning, conquest - not words you usually associate with kindness.

Later on, towards the end of their lives, I thanked her. I said, "Mom, you were really tough." She said, "I wasn't tough! I always believed in you."

What I've tried to do in my stage magic is to take a trick and give it an emotional hook.

For me to grow, I have to know about the foundation that came before.