PodcastsThe Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett“Dynamo Is Dead!” - The Heartbreaking True Story Of Why Dynamo The Magician Vanished For Years! (Exclusive)
“Dynamo Is Dead!” - The Heartbreaking True Story Of Why Dynamo The Magician Vanished For Years! (Exclusive)
The Diary Of A CEO with Steven BartlettWed Dec 13 2023
Family Background and Childhood Trauma:
- Dynamo shares his experiences of growing up with a young mother after his father's incarceration, highlighting the challenges he faced due to racial issues and bullying.
- He recalls traumatic incidents, such as being thrown into a river by peers, which had a lasting impact on him emotionally and physically.
Discovery of Magic as Coping Mechanism:
- Dynamo narrates how magic was introduced to him by his grandfather as a means to cope with social isolation and deflect negative attention during his formative years.
- He explains that performing magic provided a sense of belonging and served as an escape from the hardships he endured in school.
Impact of Crohn's Disease:
- Dynamo opens up about being diagnosed with Crohn's disease at a young age, detailing the severe pain, limitations, and life-threatening complications associated with the condition.
- He describes the psychological toll of living with Crohn's disease, emphasizing its profound effects on mobility, performance abilities, and overall quality of life.
Career Journey and Recognition:
- The conversation delves into Dynamo's career milestones, including receiving accolades for his TV show "Dynamo Magician Impossible" and being invited to perform at high-profile events like the United States Super Bowl.
- Dynamo reflects on varying definitions of success while highlighting pivotal moments in his professional journey that marked significant achievements.
Health Struggles:
- Dynamo's health deteriorated due to severe Campylobacter food poisoning, exacerbating his Crohn's disease and leading to reactive arthritis, causing intense physical pain and making it challenging for him to perform magic or carry out daily activities.
- The impact of the food poisoning on his Crohn's disease led to hospitalization and subsequent struggles with various medications and treatments.
Mental Health Struggles:
- Dynamo grappled with suicidal thoughts, self-harm, feelings of worthlessness, and hopelessness as he struggled with the impact of his health issues on his career, identity, and sense of purpose.
- His mental frailty was compounded by financial pressures resulting from professional challenges that affected his ability to use social media channels and maintain his public persona as Dynamo.
Support System:
- Dynamo found unwavering support from his wife during this tumultuous period, who encouraged him to seek therapy and provided essential emotional support.
- Dr. Edward Sim played a crucial role in providing mental health support by offering therapy sessions for free and introducing Sonic Reset Therapy as a calming technique.
Professional Challenges:
- Legal disputes with management impacted Dynamo's ability to use social media channels, affecting his public persona as Dynamo. This added stress to an already difficult period marked by health struggles.
- Financial pressures compounded the difficulties Dynamo faced due to health issues, creating additional stress during this tumultuous time.
Recovery and Healing:
- Reading the Alcoholics Anonymous book is recommended as a resource for gaining insights into overcoming addiction and trauma, providing a blueprint through others' stories of recovery.
- The book's 12 steps offer guidance in dealing with personal trauma or grief, allowing individuals to replace the alcoholic side of it with their own experiences.
- Difficult conversations, seeking help, understanding one's past, and exploring emotional phases contribute to healing and self-understanding.
Personal Growth and Transformation:
- Emphasizes finding magic in others rather than solely relying on oneself for personal empowerment and growth.
- Encourages vulnerability, seeking therapy, sharing personal experiences to inspire others to seek help, aiming to break stigmas surrounding therapy within working-class communities.
- Expresses a desire to use his platform to encourage openness about mental health struggles while striving to inspire hope and resilience in others.
Magic and Entertainment:
- Engages in a captivating magic trick involving card tricks and illusions during the conversation.
- Discusses the significance of magic as a form of creative expression that captivates audiences by bringing imagination to life through captivating performances.