The Learning Leader Show with Ryan Hawk: Episode 669

Guest: Oz Pearlman (Oz The Mentalist)
Date: January 5, 2026

Overview

In this high-energy episode, Ryan Hawk sits down in-person with world-renowned mentalist Oz Pearlman to explore the mind of a master performer, relentless learner, and entrepreneurial leader. The conversation covers Oz’s path from teenage table magician to prime-time TV, his philosophy on repetition and resilience, the secrets behind his signature charm, the nuances of reading people (and himself), and leadership lessons drawn from his encounters with legends like Steven Spielberg. Oz also demonstrates his mind-blowing mentalism—live on air—leaving Ryan (and listeners) absolutely stunned.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Rejection, Resilience, and Getting the Reps

• Early Days (Restaurant Gigs, Age 14)

  • Learned resilience through table-to-table performances, facing frequent rejection (09:00–12:25).
  • Developed mental strategies to separate personal ego from professional feedback.

    "I learned at that point in my life that I can't take this failure and rejection personally." (Oz, 10:50)

  • Framed rejection as a challenge not against him personally, but his craft.

• Repetition as Foundation of Success

  • Reinforces Malcolm Gladwell’s “10,000 hours” rule with real-life examples from his relentless gig schedule.

    "There's usually this insane amount of reps that most people don't ever see." (Ryan, 08:38)

  • Drawing parallels to elite athletes, long marriages, successful entrepreneurship.

2. The Science and Art of Mentalism

• Defining the Craft

  • Mentalism is "magic of the mind"—different from sleight-of-hand magic; can't be rehearsed without live feedback (18:04–19:42).

    "Mentalism is near impossible to practice at home without an audience... because mentalism is magic of the mind." (Oz, 18:12)

• Performance and Adaptation

  • Even planned routines require improvisational skill.

    "The whole what's happening with the trick is not planned—it's jazz... I'm adapting." (Oz, 20:06)

  • Comedy chops and audience rapport are as essential as technical skill.

3. Building Relationships, Following Up, Making Others Feel Seen

• Authentic Curiosity and Intentional Kindness

  • Oz emphasizes always being truly interested in others—recalling names, details, and stories (12:26–13:02; 23:13–25:14).

    "Never let someone else be in charge of your destiny." (Oz, 13:01) "To be interesting, be interested." (Ryan, 52:20 summary)

• Follow-Up as a Superpower

  • The practice of sending handwritten notes and thoughtful follow-ups after events—including personalized compliments and photos (13:01–14:13; 36:37–37:51).

    "Always, always write a thank-you note... the human touch, the little things they do, that's what really shines." (Oz, 36:53)

  • Persistence balanced with empathy—offering "outs," being patient, but keeping the connection alive (38:32–40:35).

4. Confidence, Vulnerability, and Preparation

• How to Build Genuine Confidence

  • Confidence is earned through diligent preparation and self-advocacy (28:07–31:09).

    "Being prepared is a huge one... I get the confidence from preparing very effectively and then knowing the preparation has worked in the past." (Oz, 28:47)

  • Failure is not fatal; each setback is survivable and instructive.

• Vulnerability as Charisma

  • Leaders and performers become instantly relatable and engaging by admitting what they don’t know and sharing honest emotions (25:38–27:50).

    "Being real with somebody in that moment immediately takes away the used car salesman feeling." (Oz, 26:54)

5. Lessons from the Greats: Spielberg, Sales, and Leadership

• Meeting Steven Spielberg

  • Spielberg’s secret: relentless curiosity, making you feel like the most interesting person in the room (31:24–33:56).

    "That's why he's Steven Spielberg... All he did was ask about me. He made me feel so interesting because of all this stuff about me." (Oz, 32:49)

• Common Traits of High Performers

  • Politeness, gratitude, and a habit of small, meaningful gestures.
  • Documenting details after every interaction to forge authentic long-term relationships (37:51).

6. Mentalism Demonstration: The Mind-Blowing Moment

• Live Mind Reading on the Show (44:55–50:26)
  • Oz prompts Ryan to think of dream podcast guests, successfully divines both Peyton Manning and, most impressively, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin—leaving Ryan audibly shaken.

    "There is no way, dude. There’s no way.” (Ryan, 46:20 after Oz reveals Peyton Manning) "Doris Kearns Goodwin.” (Ryan, 47:51; Oz had written the name beforehand)

  • Oz explains that "failure" often isn’t visible; mentalists subtly adjust direction or outcomes on the fly.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Oz on Reps and Resilience:

• "I can't take this failure and rejection personally... I had to find a way to do it." (10:53)

Oz on Charm and Authenticity:

• "Charisma and charm... It's takes the sting out of so many things in life... it's a skill that's developed." (22:46)

On Relationship-Building:

• "Never let someone else be in charge of your destiny." (13:01)
• "The human touch, the little things... wow, they remembered that about me... It's literally like a mentalism trick to reveal that information to people even though they gave it to you already, because it shows you took the time." (36:53)

On Spielberg’s Curiosity:

• "He just asked question after question after question... And I just realized that's why he's Steven Spielberg... All he did was ask about me." (32:49)

On Confidence and Preparation:

• "Being prepared is a huge one... I get the confidence from preparing very effectively." (28:47)
• "Prepare and don't whiff it, but... you've got to come into it less tense." (31:09)

On Handwritten Notes and Politeness:

• "Always write a thank you note... the power of a handwritten note. In today's day and age, when everything's AI... there's a power in the human touch that still exists." (36:53)

Live Mentalism Mic Drop:

• "Doris Kearns Goodwin.” (Ryan, 47:51)
  "Biographer, famous biographer... how do you do this? That one is insane." (Oz & Ryan, 47:53–48:14)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Restaurant Gig Rejection & Resilience: 09:00–12:25
• Business Cards, Early Hustle: 13:01–14:13
• Magic vs Mentalism: What’s the Difference? 17:44–19:42
• America’s Got Talent—Preparation and Rejection: 28:07–31:09
• Steven Spielberg Story on Being Interested: 31:24–33:56
• Thank-You Notes & Relationship Building: 36:37–37:51
• Follow-Up Methodology: 38:32–40:35
• Live Mentalism Stunt: 44:55–50:26

Takeaways for Listeners

• To be interesting, be interested.
  Oz’s greatest power isn’t trickery, but genuine engagement and curiosity.

• Repetition and resilience trump raw talent.
  Rejection and failure build calluses; embrace the grind.

• Follow up—every time, with a personal touch.
  People remember the details that make them feel seen.

• Prepare like crazy, but be ready to improvise.
  Confidence blooms from evidence, but flexibility is vital in any performance or leadership moment.

• Be authentic, be vulnerable.
  Whether in a boardroom, onstage, or in everyday life, authenticity is magnetic.

Tone & Style

This conversation bursts with warmth, energy, and good humor—Oz's quick wit, self-deprecation, and utility-driven wisdom shine throughout. The vibe is informal, rapid-fire, and generous, with plenty of actionable takeaways for anyone seeking to level up their leadership, sales, or life skills. Ryan and Oz connect as peers, trading war stories and genuine curiosity about what drives excellence across fields.

For those seeking next-level communication, relationship-building, or personal growth, this episode is a masterclass in leadership—and mentalism—in action.