Orlando Special FX - Andy Nicholls

Orlando Special FX - Andy Nicholls

From The Tiberius Show by The Tiberius Show

February 18, 2026 · 30 min · Season 1 · Episode 382

About this episode

This episode features special effects expert Andy Nicholls discussing the world of pyrotechnics and safety in special effects.

Welcome back to The Tiberius Show! 🎙️ Today’s episode is all about fire, explosions, and special effects… BUT safely (seriously: do not try this at home). Our guest is Andy Nichols, a special effects and pyrotechnics expert and the owner of Orlando Special Effects. Andy explains what pyrotechnics really are, where you see practical effects in real life (movies, theme parks, concerts, haunted houses, and even sporting events), and why training + safety rules are what make the creativity possible. Andy also talks about air cannons and confetti cannons, how effects are built, how safety distances work, and what it’s like to get paid to blow up cars (for movies… legally 😄). Then we jump into Math Corners and Heart of the Lion with a great integrity story that shows what it means to do the right thing. What You’ll Learn in This Episode • What a pyrotechnics expert actually does • Where special effects show up outside of movies • How air cannons and confetti cannons work • Why safety is always more important than “cool” • How rules/standards help creativity (not block it) • What happens when an effect doesn’t go as planned • Skills teens can start learning now (trades +…

People in this episode

Guest: Andy Nicholls

Topics covered

  • fire
  • explosions
  • special effects
  • pyrotechnics
  • safety
  • creativity
  • math
  • integrity

Keywords

  • air cannons
  • confetti cannons
  • CGI
  • practical effects
  • real-world math

Mentioned in this episode

Products: Orlando Special Effects

Books & works: The Tiberius Show

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