Brian Brushwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Brian Brushwood
Brushwood in 2014
Birth name	Brian Allen Brushwood
Born	(1975-01-17) January 17, 1975 (age 50) Fountain Valley, California
Medium	Live, television, IPTV, MP3
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Texas at Austin
Genres	Magic (illusion) YouTube
Subject(s)	Confidence tricks; Fire eating
Spouse	Bonnie Brushwood
Notable works and roles	Scam School Weird Things Night Attack Cordkillers Hacking The System (with Jason Murphy) Modern Rogue (with Jason Murphy)

Brian Allen Brushwood, born on January 17, 1975, is an American magician, podcaster, author, and comedian. He is also a popular YouTuber. Brian is famous for his show Scam Nation, which used to be called Scam School. In this show, he teaches fun tricks you can use at parties or with friends.

He also co-hosts several podcasts. These include Weird Things, Cordkillers, and Great Night. Brian Brushwood performs his Bizarre Magic stage show all over the United States. He has written six books. Brian has appeared on TV shows like The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and CNN. He also co-hosted a YouTube show called The Modern Rogue with Jason Murphy.

Biography

Brian Brushwood was born in Fountain Valley, California. When he was a child, he received a magic kit for Christmas. This gift sparked his interest in magic.

College Life and Magic

While studying at the University of Texas at Austin, Brian rediscovered his love for magic. He started performing his first paid magic shows. He even performed a 45-minute magic show for his final project in college.

During his time as a student, Brian took a class about scientific skepticism. This class taught him how to question things and look for proof. His professor, Rory Coker, helped him with his magic thesis. Brian has returned to the university to help teach in that same class.

Career Path

Brian graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997. After college, he married his wife, Bonnie. He first worked testing video games. Then, he worked at Dell, designing computer systems.

While working at Dell, Brian performed magic shows on Wednesday nights. He realized he loved magic more than his office job. In 1999, he decided to leave Dell. He chose to become a full-time magician, performing his Bizarre Magic show.

From TV to Internet

Brian almost had a TV show, but the deal didn't work out. So, he looked into Internet broadcasting. This way, he could have more control over his shows. After making some episodes of Brian Brushwood: On The Road, he got the idea for Scam School.

The first episode of Scam School aired on April 6, 2008. Brian had to travel to San Francisco to film the show. In 2008, a famous person, Richard Garriott, even did a trick he learned from Scam School while on the International Space Station. Later, when Discovery Digital Networks bought Revision 3, Brian moved the show's production to Austin, Texas. He lives there now with his wife and three children.

Brian is also friends with Korey Coleman and Martin Thomas. He helped them start their company, Double Toasted. He encouraged them to continue making shows for their fans.

Performances and Shows

Brian Brushwood's shows combine different types of entertainment. He uses old sideshow tricks, mind reading, and traditional magic. He also adds a lot of comedy.

Brian Brushwood and Evan Bernstein during a live recording of The Geologic Podcast at Dragon*Con 2011

Veronica Belmont and Brian Brushwood preparing for the Game On! internet show in 2011

Stage Show

Brian started his professional stage show in 1999. He performs 100 to 200 live shows each year. He visits many college campuses across the United States. His Bizarre Magic show is a mix of amazing stunts and funny moments.

After talking to his audience, Brian created a lecture called Scams, Sasquatch, and the Supernatural in 2004. This talk is based on the science class he took in college. It helps people understand how to spot fake claims about strange topics. He also developed a lecture called Social Engineering: Scam Your Way Into Anything Or From Anybody. This talk teaches about how people can influence others.

Brian explained why he teaches people how to trick others. He said, "I love educating people on how to deceive. It's because I learned magic before I took my science class. I realized that people are easy to fool. It's not that we are dumb. It's just how our brains work. Magicians use this to their advantage. Scam artists do the same thing. If more people know these tools, they might question their own experiences more."

Brian's Hair

Brian Brushwood used to have a very unique hairstyle. It was inspired by a character named Guile from the video game Street Fighter II. It took about nine minutes to style using special products. Brian said he could even sleep without messing it up! He stopped wearing this hairstyle in 2012. He felt he was getting older and had new TV projects. As of 2025, Brian has a shorter haircut and a neat beard.

Mr. Happypants

Mr. Happypants is a puppet that appears in Brian's stage show and podcasts. Brian thought it would be funny to give a cute name to a mean character. Mr. Happypants started out mean but became very evil. He speaks through Brian using a voice distorter. Mr. Happypants first appeared in a stage show at a magic conference. His first podcast appearance was in Episode 6 of Brian Brushwood on the Road.

Television Appearances

Brian Brushwood has appeared on national television many times. His first appearance was on The Roseanne Show in 2000. He performed a trick where he pushed a nail into one eye and it came out the other. He has been on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno twice. There, he did tricks like the "human crazy straw."

Brian also appeared on Anderson Cooper 360°. He taught Sanjay Gupta a trick called "the human blockhead." On CNN's Life Beyond Limits, Brian taught Gupta how to eat fire. He also talked about eating fire on Food Network's Unwrapped. He even ate fire and helped make a s'more brûlée on Paula's Party. Brian has also been on shows like Debra Duncan, The Jenny Jones Show, and Ricki Lake.

Brian Brushwood and Jason Murphy starred in a show called Hacking the System. It started on February 27, 2014, on the National Geographic Channel.

Internet Shows and Podcasts

Brian Brushwood is well-known for his online shows and podcasts. He creates content that teaches tricks, discusses strange news, and talks about technology.

Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood hosting a show at Dragon*Con 2013

Comedy Albums

Brian Brushwood has released three comedy albums. His album Night Attack came out on September 28, 2011. It reached number four on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart. Night Attack 2: Enjoy the Garden was released on April 20, 2013. It hit number one on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart. His album Night Attack (Live) was released on October 22, 2013, and also reached number one on the Billboard Comedy Albums chart.

Awards

• 1995 – Winner – Best Comedy Magic – Texas Association of Magicians
• 1998 – Winner – Best Club Magic – Texas Association of Magicians
• 2002 – Winner – Best Stage Magic – Texas Association of Magicians
• 2003 – Voted – Variety Entertainer of the Year – campusawards.com
• 2015 – People's Choice Podcast Award for Mature – Night Attack
• 2015 – People's Choice Podcast Award for Best Video – Night Attack
• 2016 – People's Choice Podcast Award for Education – Scam School