Petal native, Cole Blalock has been practicing magic for over 20 years. Like many, his passion began as a hobby.
“I used to do magic for fun in high school,” Blalock shared.
After graduating from Petal High School, Blalock served a religious mission for his church in Cuiabá, Brazil. This is where his love of magic and service for others evolved, and would later become a significant turning point in his life.
“When I got back from Brazil, I would enroll in college, try the standard day job, then quit…it was a lot of back and forth, until I ultimately decided I wanted to find a way to make magic my career,” Blaclock shared.
With a wife and four children, Blalock stepped out of the traditional workforce in January 2024 to practice magic and become a full-time motivational speaker.
“In 2019, I experienced a near-suicidal event. It shook me, and I had to piece everything back together,” Blalock shared. “I wanted to become an advocate for the normalcy of just that, because the underlying theme I heard from everyone was ‘I had no idea you felt that way—you’re always laughing.’ This was the thread that connected everything. To think someone like me was having those issues was such a shock to people. It was then, that I realized I could incorporate self-worth and value into my magic shows.”
Now, Blalock uses his magic to highlight these critical talking points in the corporate world and to various schools. He has also given a TEDx talk and travels nationwide to deliver his important message—that the magic within each of us is real.
“A friend of mine, Ron Abel in Hammond, LA, works for a government organization that serves high school students who are either under the poverty line or first-generation college students. He asked me to fly down and do a presentation for these students; this was a career-defining moment for me,” Blalock shared.
Now, the Mississippi magician works for this same organization, which addresses mental health awareness through magic presentations for teenagers and young adults and emphasizes the power of choices.
Cole Blalock specializes in creating memorable experiences that resonate with his audience. His performances are not just about magic tricks; they are designed to engage and uplift attendees, and his stage show is particularly noteworthy. It combines visual and interactive magic with humor and heartfelt messages about personal significance and community connection. Audiences can expect a journey filled with laughter, amazement, and poignant reminders of what truly matters in life.
Currently, Blalock is preparing to visit his old mission grounds in Brazil.
“Serving in such a capacity in a foreign place gives you so much, especially when you’re a young adult like I was, he said.”It was a pivotal time, and I attribute much of my growth to the Brazilian people. So, I’ve decided to return to Brazil for two weeks and offer motivational magic shows for underprivileged schools, for free.”
Donations to help fund this project can be made through GoFundMe: “Motivation and Magic for Brazilian Schools. If funds exceed 5k, every additional dollar will go towards the schools.
Currently, Blalock lives in Utah with his family, but he appreciates his Mississippi roots and comes back often to visit.
“Mississippi has been very supportive of me. I love the people in Mississippi; we cling to good things here, and want to support people,” he said.
A common question for magicians is, “Is magic real?” According to Cole Blalock, it is.
“To me, magic is real. I believe that magic is the moment we are in, and we get to decide if it’s real. When you connect with people, and share moments together—that’s magic. Many people will ask me when I got into magic, and my response to them is… ‘Well, ‘when did you get out?’ At some point, all of us believed the world was magical.”
Mississippi’s Cole Blalock is making a difference in the world through motivational magic, reminding people of life’s importance and to never take it for granted.
“Magic is whatever keeps people up at night wondering how you do what you do,” Blalock shared. Maybe they wonder how you’re so kind all of the time or how you’re such a talented musician—whatever it is that you do well, that’s magic.”
*Photos are courtesy of coleblalock.com
