When Reality isn’t Good Enough: Performing and Addiction with Magician Magic Mod (Ben Taylor)
Ben Taylor is a magician and has even appeared on Britain's Got Talent and toured with the likes of Paul Weller and The Libertines. He joins Dan to talk about his self-destructive relationship with alcohol and drugs and what lead him to become sober almost a year ago today. Ben and Dan also discuss the relationship between performing and addiction, the unique struggles of the early stages of going sober as well as the clarity and honesty that sobriety brings to your life.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Ben started magic at a young age alongside football. When he stopped playing football he fully put himself into his magic career and also began drinking. Separating his true self, Ben Taylor from his stage self, Magic Mod was difficult, people often didn’t see Ben for his true self and that’s when the drinking started. Performing on stage gives such a high, it can be very difficult to replicate and searching for the feeling often results in alcohol and drug abuse. Touring with rock acts such as the Libertines left Ben feeling like he had a reputation to live up to and his addiction began to spiral. Sobriety brings clarity but this can only come when you are honest with yourself and admit you have a problem. It takes a lot to admit to others and yourself the mistakes you have made when you have been struggling with addiction, but you have to do this to be able to move forward with your life. The beginning of sobriety has its own challenges, physically through chemical imbalances in your brain to the emotions that come with realising the bad things you have done. Ben’s addiction got so bad that his partner told him to choose between alcohol and drugs and her. After this ultimatum and after having a disastrous performance, he made the decision to do the work to become sober.
BEST MOMENTS
“The beginning of sobriety is so hard”
“It’s 10% magic and the rest is patter”
“No one gave a fuck about who Ben Taylor is, that’s where the addiction started”
“By me caring what people thought of me almost fucking ruined me”
“It’s like reality wasn’t good enough”
“That band, The Libertines giving me that chance and that platform, forever they will be brothers to me”
“The maddest thing about sobriety is the clarity you get after”
“Mistakes are the only way we learn, try not to harbour that guilt too much”
VALUABLE RESOURCES
https://www.instagram.com/themagicmod
https://themagicmod.com/q-and-a/
CONTACT METHOD
ABOUT THE GUEST
ABOUT THE HOST
Daniel O’Reilly
Daniel O’Reilly is one of the UK’s Largest Influencers, a comedian, actor, musician, viral video star and social influencer. With a portfolio of businesses Daniel enjoys a busy lifestyle mixed with business and pleasure. Daniel is a father to two beautiful girls and enjoys spending quality time with them and his wife Shelley. With 2022 being a busy year, Daniel sold out his O2 stand-up show, released his British movie 'The Last Heist' and is currently preparing for the upcoming release of his other film 'Miss The Kiss'. Daniel is a creative through and through, with a passion to strive in everything he does. Daniel is looking forward to the release of his podcast 'Menace 2 Sobriety' in 2023, his long-term position on GB News, Headliners, and the growing slate of films in the works with his production company, HYPRR.
PODCAST DESCRIPTION
Daniel O'Reilly's newest venture sees the creation of his Menace 2 Sobriety podcast, a series of relaxed and open conversations with different guests and varied experiences.
After recently being diagnosed with severe ADHD and beginning his sobriety again, Daniel also set up a page on Facebook and Instagram called 'Men And Their Emotions' (M.A.T.E) an accessible, open and supportive group for MEN to post their feelings, thoughts and current life issues. Upon seeing the responses from men around the world to some of the posts on the group he was blown away and continues to be touched by the kindness and support offered by strangers. This all led to Daniel wanting to start up his own podcast and invite guests to join him in opening up about past experiences and talk about all things mental health, family & sobriety.
The podcast will see Daniel and his interesting guests' sharing their personal stories and learning experiences that they hope will help other people; whether it encourages one person to ask for help, talk to family about their struggles with getting sober/clean, or realise that they aren't alone. The Menace 2 Sobriety podcast has been created by Daniel to help people fight their own gremlins.
