Artwork for Oddcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast

Oddcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

Earl Fontainelle

Reincarnation

Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Gnosticism

Simon Magus

Fairies

Western Esotericism

Judaism

Basilides

Ritual Magic

Magic

James George Frazer

Carpocrates

Clement Of Alexandria

Occult Philosophy

Philo Of Alexandria

Judaism In the Hellenistic Period

Transmigration

Paracelsus

Henry Cornelius Agrippa

Second Temple Judaism

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

147 ratings

Publishes	Monthly	Episodes	56	Founded	6 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	Education

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Latest Episodes

Astral Weeks. On the Planetary Order in the West

In this episode we dive into the qualitative time propounded by western astrology. Following the trail of the planetary week, we are led to explore ancient gods, planetary orderings in antiquity, astrolatry, the planetary hours, and more.

15 Jul 2026 • 52 min

Dorka Tamás on Sylvia Plath and the Supernatural

We discuss the short life and extraordinary poetry of the American author Sylvia Plath. Dorka Tamás is our guide into the places where Plath's poetry, emerging from the `high disenchantment' of the American cold war era, strays into the magical field... more

5 Jul 2026 • 40 min • Most popular

William Gallois on the Amuletic Qayrawān in the Colonial Era

William Gallois was looking through hundreds of photographs of the city of Qayrawān, in modern-day Tunisia, from the period of French colonial occupation. He started to notice strange paintings in the backgrounds of these pictures ...

22 May 2026 • 50 min

Krista Muratore on the Countercultural Antichrist

In this episode we discuss the figure of the Antichrist as he appears in a number of countercultural movements, notably the Christianities of Böhme and Blake. Krista Muratore is our guide to this troublous figure (who cannot figure out which side he'... more

6 May 2026 • 1 hr 2 min

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Recent Guests

Dorka Tamás

Researcher on 20th-century poetry; co-founder of the Sylvia Plath Society

Sylvia Plath Society

Episode: Dorka Tamás on Sylvia Plath and the Supernatural

William Gallois

Professor of the Islamic Mediterranean and director of the Institute for Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter

University of Exeter

Episode: William Gallois on the Amuletic Qayrawān in the Colonial Era

Krista Muratore

doctoral candidate and lecturer in the English department at University of Illinois in Chicago

University of Illinois Chicago

Episode: Krista Muratore on the Countercultural Antichrist

Yousef Casewit

Associate Professor of Quranic Studies at the Divinity School, University of Chicago

University of Chicago Divinity School

Episode: Crossing Over to the Unseen: Yousef Casewit on Ibn Barrajān

Daniel Harms

Associate librarian at the State University of New York at Courtland and expert on fairy magic

State University of New York at Cortland

Episode: Daniel Harms on the People and Books Behind Early-Modern Fairy-Magic

Håkon Teigen

Researcher in Manichaeism at the University of Oslo

University of Oslo

Episode: Coming Back for More, Part XI: Håkon Fiane Teigen on Manichæan Reincarnation

Joel Kalvesmaki

Scholar of Western Esotericism

Unspecified (guest on episode)

Episode: Coming Back for More, Part X: Joel Kalvesmaki on Origenism, Evagrios, and the Spectre of Christian Transmigrationism

Jonathan Young

PhD student in Theology and Religion, University of Oxford

University of Oxford

Episode: Coming Back for More, Part VIII: Jonathan Young on Origen of Alexandria

Sami Yli-Karjanmaa

Docent of early Jewish and Christian literature at the University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki

Episode: Coming Back for More, Part V: Sami Yli-Karjanmaa on Reincarnation in Philo and Josephus

Host

Earl Fontenelle

Host associated with The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP); frequent contributor to discussions on Western esotericism, magic, and religious history.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 147 ratings

Fantastic.
This is the podcast version of the kind of discourse I usually watch Dr. Sledge's "Esoterica" channel for on Youtube. Full of excellent, intelligent commentary, sensible occultists and fabulous ideas. A+
Apple Podcasts
5
mysterymach
United States3 months ago
We are the Holy Ones
A fount of Sophia. Thank you.
Apple Podcasts
5
Hail Satan?
United States9 months ago
Dig it!
Dug.
Apple Podcasts
5
conaninspace
United States2 years ago
A machine engineer named Valis interviews on AI
need i say more?
Apple Podcasts
5
Anotnius Block
United States3 years ago
Love this podcast
I have learned so much and encourage Earl to continue on with his great work. Stay esoteric..
Apple Podcasts
5
basiliskfondler
United States4 years ago

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Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guest lineups are varied and high-caliber, offering strong interdisciplinary insights.

Fans appreciate connections between mainstream scholarship and esoteric traditions.

Listeners praise the rigorous, scholarly approach and depth of historical context.

Chart Rankings

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Apple Podcasts	#111	Spain/Education
Apple Podcasts	#246	Sweden/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Dorka Tamás on Sylvia Plath and the Supernatural

Q: Why is Yeats referenced in relation to Plath's mystical sensibilities?

Yeats serves as a historical and poetic precursor, illustrating a lineage of mysticism in modern poetry that Plath both borrows from and reinterprets in her own unique voice.

Dorka Tamás on Sylvia Plath and the Supernatural

Q: How does Sylvia Plath's engagement with the supernatural influence her poetry and its reception?

It frames her work as a form of spell work and ritual language, connecting personal trauma, motherhood, and political context to a broader esoteric toolkit that readers can interpret in multiple ways.

William Gallois on the Amuletic Qayrawān in the Colonial Era

Q: What is a Cairoan, and why is it significant in this study?

A Cairoan is a North African city with deep Islamic scholarly and trading heritage; in this study, it serves as a focal point for examining how large-scale amuletic paintings shaped urban life, sanctity, and resistance within colonial North Africa.

Coming Back for More, Part XI: Håkon Fiane Teigen on Manichæan Reincarnation

Q: How does reincarnation function in a non-individual, cyclical sense within Manichaeism?

Souls are recycled in a grand cosmic recycling program where light from the sphere of the stars is drawn out by the Virgin of Light, purified, and redistributed through rain, plants, animals, and humans. Individuals are not isolated entities; rather, they are part of a universal light that flows through a continuous cycle, with souls intermingling as they move through cycles.

Coming Back for More, Part XI: Håkon Fiane Teigen on Manichæan Reincarnation

Q: Could you outline the three paths in Manichaean eschatology and how they relate to individual destiny?

There are three basic paths after death: the path to hell (or hells), the path to salvation, and the mixture or transmigration path. The elect and perfect catechumens have distinct routes, with some souls moving toward the Pillar of Glory and the Milky Way as a gateway, while others become trapped in the stars and archons, potentially undergoing further purification or punishment depending on deeds.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Episodes explore Western esotericism through scholarly conversations on Frazer's The Golden Bough, fairy magic in early modern contexts, and reincarnation across Christian and Jewish thought. The range includes deep dives into historical manuscripts, occult philosophy,Platonism, and contemporary takes from figures like Alan Moore, offering a dense, interdisciplinary look at how esoteric ideas persisted and evolved. Notable strengths include rigorous historical context, diverse guest perspectives, and a willingness to challenge simplistic narratives about magic, religion, and science. This podcast is likely to appeal to listeners who enjoy scholarly yet accessible discussions of occult history, religious studies, and the larger cultural impa... more

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1. Weird Studies
2. Hermitix
3. Roots of Magic episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)
4. Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio
5. Acid Horizon

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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 56 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Dorka Tamás
2. William Gallois
3. Krista Muratore
4. Yousef Casewit
5. Daniel Harms
6. Håkon Teigen
7. Joel Kalvesmaki
8. Jonathan Young

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