Dr. Alice Pailhès
Unveiling the magic of your mind
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Your mind is the magician.
I’ll show you its tricks.
I’m Dr Alice Pailhès — a psychological scientist, author, and speaker exploring how your mind constructs the reality you live in.
What if the limits you think are real… are just illusions your mind hasn’t seen through yet?
I reveal the hidden mechanisms behind perception, belief, and identity — and how they shape your choices, your behavior, and the life you live.
By blending rigorous psychological research with the principles of illusion and wonder, I show you not only how your mind deceives you, but how to use those same mechanisms to transform your reality consciously.
I’m one of the few researchers in the world specialising in the psychology of magic, a field that treats magic not as entertainment, but as a scientific tool to understand how we construct meaning, make decisions, and experience the world.
Whether I’m on stage, online, or in the lab, my mission is simple:
To help you stop being a passenger of your mind and become its architect.
TED talk: What magic tricks can reveal about free will
Biography
Dr Alice Pailhès’ research pioneered the scientific study of magicians’ mind control techniques, revealing how subtle psychological forces can shape decisions, beliefs, and perceptions without our awareness.
Her work has been published in top-tier academic journals and featured in media such as TED, TEDx, BBC, The Financial Times, and WIRED.
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Highlights:
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Author of the Vanishing Inc Best seller The Psychology of Magic and the upcoming tradebook The Art of Being Fooled (MIT Press, 2026)
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Keynote speaker at science festivals, corporate innovation summits, and global conferences
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Committee member of the Science of Magic Association
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What I offer
Talks & Keynotes – Engaging, interactive talks that challenge assumptions and inspire new ways of thinking.
Workshops – Hands-on experiences exploring decision-making, perception, beliefs and cognitive biases.
Creative Consulting – Helping media, museums, theatre, and brands design immersive experiences grounded in science (and magic!).
What's next?
I'm currently writing my first trade book, The Art of Being Fooled (working title, MIT Press), which explores how the psychological principles behind magic tricks can help us understand and reshape our everyday thoughts, behaviors, and beliefs. The book is scheduled for release in 2026.
I recently stepped onto the TEDx stage in Bordeaux to explore one of my favourite psychological enigmas: the illusion of control — why we feel in command even when randomness runs the show. From lottery tickets we swear are 'lucky' to choices we believe we consciously make, my talk revealed how our minds constantly weave meaning, stories, and certainty out of thin air… and why that might not be such a bad thing.
The video will be released in January 2026.