Paul Draper is an anthropologist, academic, and an award-winning mentalist, magician, and film maker. As an anthropologist and communications expert specializing in the cognitive science of religious beliefs, he has lectured at Fortune 500 companies and universities. As the creator of the show Mental Mysteries, Draper blends his academic background as an anthropologist and communications expert with the arts of mentalism and magic. Draper has been described as a pioneer in the field of live online magic shows, regularly performing live streaming shows during the COVID-19 pandemic with viewing audiences of thousands of people. Early life Born in Utah in 1978, Draper first became interested in magic when family members discovered Showplace Magic and Novelty in Salt Lake City. The first full-length magic show that he saw was at the 49th Street Galleria when he was 7 and then developed his own show and started performing for his grade school every year. Draper began performing magic for his friends at age 8 and continued performing throughout his school years, lettering in debate, choir, and drama. In his high school years, he also became a national debate champion in original oratory and a state drama champion in pantomime. At age 16, Draper watched Michael Skinner perform at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas, which propelled his interest in magic, which eventually led to his discovery of mentalism. Education Before embarking on a career in magic and mentalism in Las Vegas, Draper received his Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Weber State University and attended UNLV for a Master’s degree in Rhetoric. In 1999, Draper spent time as an anthropologist with the Navajo people on the Navajo Native American Reservation, where he learned about the power of oral tradition. Career Before embarking on a career in magic and mentalism in Las Vegas, Draper worked as a lecturer in Utah at Westminster College and Weber State University and later as an instructor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he taught communication studies. Recently Draper has returned part time to teaching at Soka University of America as an adjunct professor and distinguished lecturer. In 2004, Draper gave up his full time academic career to follow his "childhood passion" of magic and mentalism, according to an interview with Psychology Today. At that time, he began working as the house magician at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. For Draper, these two career