# 383: The Monkey's Not Gonna Work

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Length: 57m
- Episode: 383
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work
- Listen: https://embedded.fm/episodes/383

## Summary

Mario Marchese, known as Mario the Maker Magician, discusses his unique intersection of robotics and traditional magic, detailing how he builds accessible, cardboard-based robots like Automabot to inspire young makers. He explains the engineering challenges of synchronizing multiple circuits for illusions like the Coin Matrix and shares how he turned technical failures, such as a snapped ground wire on his robot monkey Marcel, into entertaining features of his live show. Marchese also covers his book 'The Maker Magician's Handbook', his work with Piff the Magic Dragon, and his philosophy on using accessible tools like Arduino and 3D printing to lower the barrier to entry for creative technology.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=7) Introduction: Mario Marchese and the Maker Magician
- [1:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=82) Lightning Round: Muppets, Robots, and Batteries
- [4:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=247) Origins: Making, Magic, and the Magic Club
- [7:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=425) Automabot and the Coin Matrix Illusion
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=726) Accessibility: Cardboard Robots and Low Expectations
- [15:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=936) Revealing Secrets: The Magic Castle and Make Magazine
- [19:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=1198) Learning Robotics: Robert-Houdin, Arduino, and 3D Printing
- [22:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=1320) Handling Failure: The Snapped Wire and Marcel the Monkey
- [27:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=1630) Working with Piff the Magic Dragon and Aldo Colombini
- [34:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=2089) The Pandemic Pivot: Zoom Shows and Virtual Theater
- [39:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=2340) The Maker's Backpack: Tools, Arduino, and Servo Motors
- [44:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=2677) Gatekeeping in Tech and Magic: Identity and Flexibility
- [47:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-08-05-383-the-monkeys-not-gonna-work#t=2874) Writing Books: The Maker Magician's Handbook and Robot Magic

## Topics

- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Automabot (product)
- Marcel (product)
- Piff the Magic Dragon (other)
- Arduino (chip)
- Make Magazine (other)
- Sesame Street (other)
- Penn and Teller's Fool Us (other)
- Tannen's Magic Camp (other)
- Jean-Eugène Robert-Houdin (other)
- Aldo Colombini (other)
- Freccia Brothers (company)
- The Maker Magician's Handbook (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 134: Robotics as a hobby - Kevin McAleer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2025-11-21-episode-134-robotics-as-a-hobby-kevin-mcaleer) (Robot Talk)
- [Episode 143: ROBOTS!!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2017-11-10-episode-143-robots) (Making It)
- [Ep 149: Ballerina Bot Balances, Flexures Track Cat Food, PCB Goes Under the Knife, and an ATtiny Does the 555](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-12-17-ep-149-ballerina-bot-balances-flexures-track-cat-food-pcb-goes-under-the-knife-a) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 173: EMF Camp Special Edition](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2022-06-17-ep-173-emf-camp-special-edition) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Episode 188: Robots that will kill you](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-10-26-episode-188-robots-that-will-kill-you) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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