Scott Bloom interviews Tom Pesce, a professional magician, speaker, and former educator who made the leap to full-time speaking after over two decades in education. Tom discusses how his teaching background informs his work as an entertainer, drawing parallels between creating memorable classroom moments and unforgettable event experiences. Tom reflects on his unique classroom environment inspired by his father's "school utopia," emphasizing culture, intentionality, and making people feel part of something special. He explains how both employees and students are motivated by purpose and genuine investment, not passive involvement. A major focus is Tom's concept of "engineered surprise"—using intentional entertainment to disrupt expectations and foster audience connection through magic, music, or cultural adaptation. He insists the real magic is helping others discover their unique strengths and bring their whole selves to their roles. The conversation addresses risk, failure, and recalibration, encouraging event professionals to value presence and authenticity over perfection. Tom discusses current trends: hyper-personalization through technology, meaningful hybrid integration, and the growing emphasis on wellness and immersive experiences. They wrap with backstage stories (including runaway doves), speaker mistakes, and advice for planners: book entertainers who understand the corporate world and deliver full experiences, not just brief acts. Overall, the episode is packed with insights on translating teaching skills into world-class speaking, the power of intentional surprise, and the evolving landscape of immersive, people-centered events.