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

144 ratings

Publishes	Infrequently	Episodes	53	Founded	5 years ago
Number of Listeners		Category	Education

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Latest Episodes

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

Crossing Over to the Unseen: Yousef Casewit on Ibn Barrajān

We are joined by Yousef Casewit to discuss one of the lesser-known spiritual masters of the Andalusian tradition, Ibn Barrajān. We explore his life, times, and writings, his extraordinary spiritual practice of ‘crossing over’ into the unseen, and his... more

24 Apr 2026 • 1 hr 1 min

Jason Ānanda Josephson-Storm on James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, and Western Esotericism

Jason Josephson-Storm returns to the SHWEP to discuss one of the most influential thinkers on modern western esoteric movements – Sir James George Frazer, author of The Golden Bough – and where, precisely, J.G.F. might fit within western esotericism ... more

12 Nov 2025 • 50 min

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

Having laid out fairy-magic as a genre, and discussing some of its characteristics, we are delighted to speak with Daniel Harms about the people and social circumstances behind the texts and practices of fairy-magic.

8 Oct 2025 • 1 hr 1 min

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Recent Guests

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

James O'Neill

Cultural historian specializing in the Italian Renaissance

Episode: The Strife of Love in a Dream: James O’Neill Introduces the Hypnerotomachia Poliphili

Sebastián Moro Tornese

Scholar specializing in Proclus' music theory and ancient Platonism

Episode: Sebastián Moro Tornese on Anagogic Music in Ancient Platonism

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 144 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 Statesa month ago
We are the Holy Ones
A fount of Sophia. Thank you.
Apple Podcasts
5
Hail Satan?
United States7 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 States2 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.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.

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

Q: What is the likely future trajectory of the Evagrian originist tradition within Christianity after the 553/ Fifth Ecumenical Council period?

The expert predicts that elements of Evagrius' thought become integrated into orthodox tradition through influential figures like Maximus the Confessor and Gregory Palamas, and continue to influence practices via the Philokalia and Cappadocian thought, even as explicit anti-originist policies persist.

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

Q: Why do later church authorities condemn Origenism if Origen himself graveled around with these ideas rather than endorsing them outright?

Condemnations arose from polemical contexts where opponents read Origenic ideas through competing theological programs; translations (notably Rufinus's Latin) and later ecclesiastical verdicts often framed Origen's writings in a way that emphasized perceived heterodoxy, even if Origen himself did not unambiguously endorse those views.

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

Q: Does Origen teach reincarnation? What's our evidence?

The scholarly consensus is that Origen did not actually believe in reincarnation as a doctrine, though he discusses related ideas in a scholarly and exploratory way, leaving room for interpretation rather than a fixed position.

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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. Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)
2. Hermitix
3. Weird Studies
4. Rune Soup
5. Roots of Magic episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

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this podcast launched 5 years ago and published 53 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. Krista Muratore
2. Yousef Casewit
3. Daniel Harms
4. Håkon Teigen
5. Joel Kalvesmaki
6. Jonathan Young
7. Sami Yli-Karjanmaa
8. James O'Neill

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