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

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

Earl Fontainelle
Proclus
Platonism
Christianity
Neoplatonism
Augustine Of Hippo
Theurgy
Philosophy
Macrobius
Athenian Academy
Late Antiquity
Cicero
Astrology
Hymns
Chaldean Oracles
Metempsychosis
The Elements Of Theology
Greek Philosophy
Myth Of Er
Prayer
Faith

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes215Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

Listen to this Podcast

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

Latest Episodes

In Part II we explore two of Stephanos' works: the astrological piece entitled Apotelesmatikē pragmateia, with its katarchic ‘Horoscope of Islam’, and his influential, vexing, and beautiful alchemical work, On the Great and Holy Art of Gold-Making.

We speak with Maria Papathanassiou about Stephanos of Alexandria: the last known Platonist/Aristotelean philosopher trained at Alexandria, a politically-connected courtier at Herakleios' Constantinople, a Christian, an astrologer, an alchemist, and m... more

We head back to Constantionple with Jonathan Greig at the controls, to discuss the quintessentially Orthodox mystic, Maximus the Confessor. Late-Platonist apophasis meets hard-core ascesis, and Maximus follows the theology where it wants to go, somet... more

Christopher Bonura introduces us to the Apocalypse of Pseudo-Methodios, a seventh-century Syriac prophetic universal history. Come for the Arab conquests reflected in Christian revelation, stay for the apocalyptic Roman emperor.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Weird Studies
Weird StudiesSpectreVision Radio
Why Theory
Why TheoryWhy Theory
The Dig
The DigDaniel Denvir
This Jungian Life Podcast
This Jungian Life PodcastJoseph Lee, Deborah Stewart, Lisa Marchiano

Recent Guests

Maria Papathanassiou
Scholar of Stephanos of Alexandria and Byzantine astrology
Episode: The Horoscope of Islām and The Alchemical Stone: Maria Papathanassiou on Stephanos of Alexandria, Part II
Jonathan Greig
Postdoctoral researcher on the project, Visions of the History of Greek Philosophy in Late Antiquity and the Arabic and Greek Middle Ages
Humboldt University Berlin
Episode: Esoteric Orthodoxy in East Rome: Jonathan Greig on Maximus the Confessor
Christopher Bonura
An expert on the Apocalypse of the Pseudo-Methodios and author of 'A Prophecy of Empire'
Episode: Introducing the Apocalypse of the Pseudo-Methodios, with Christopher Bonura
Martha Himmelfarb
Scholar of Jewish apocalypse and author of a new translation of Sefer Zerubbabel
Episode: Jewish Apocalypse in the Seventh Century: Martha Himmelfarb on the Sefer Zerubbabel
Touraj Daryaee
Chair in Persian Studies and Culture at the University of California Irvine
University of California Irvine
Episode: Touraj Daryaee on Zoroastrianism in the Seventh Century and Beyond
Ahab Bdaiwi
Professor of Islamic Thought and History at the University of Leiden
University of Leiden
Episode: Ahab Bdaiwi on ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib, his Family, and the Origins of Shī‘ī Islam
Fred Donner
Emeritus Professor of Near Eastern History
University of Chicago
Episode: Fred Donner on the History of Early Islām
Matthew Melvin-Koushki
Professor of Islamic History at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Episode: Matthew Melvin-Koushki on Islam, ‘the West’, and Western Esotericism
Paul Pasquesi
Expert in the late antique Syriac Christian world
Episode: Paul Pasquesi on the Book of the Holy Hierotheos

Host

Earl Fontanelle
Host with SHWEP focusing on Western esotericism, philosophy, theology, and history.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Fantastic stuff! I'm not really into esotericism but when something is told so well, not reductive and appeals to intellect then I will listen obsessively. Thanks.

    I would give it 5* except for the blind adherent to Edward Said's now much maligned, massively simplified and inaccurate view of the perception of the East. It's time that everyone moved on that considerable mistake and historical blindness in academia and the nonsense that has been created in its wake. It's harmful tosh.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    memofromturner
    6 months ago
  • epiphanic

    And unsurpassed. And shwepervescent. Offers a level of detail that warrants multiple listens. Be certain to visit episode web pages with their extensive notes and structured bibliography. Make room on your bookshelf, for some of these tomes will surely call out to you.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    geli tripping
    United States10 months ago
  • stay esoteric??

    I have done a really bad job of staying esoteric in the years I have been listening to this podcast. I can't get through an episode without running to tell someone about some fascinating thing I heard about in it. Any advice on developing a flair for apophasis would be much appreciated.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    hunktears
    United States10 months ago
  • Stimulating and illuminating content

    The hidden history of religious thought that helps make (some) sense of the world we live in today.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Claudecrowe
    Australiaa year ago
  • Highly recommend!

    Wonderful podcast covering a much deserved topic. Highly recommend and very much appreciate this offering. Thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sddoughe
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Scholarly and rigorous with broad topic coverage across religious traditions.
High-quality, deeply sourced discussions that reward repeat listening.
Strong, nuanced guest selections and careful argumentation.
Consistently engaging and deeply educational with credible guests.
Audience values depth, accuracy, and accessible scholarly narration.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Touraj Daryaee on Zoroastrianism in the Seventh Century and Beyond
Q: What happens with the coming of Islam?
Islam becomes the dominant religion, and while Zoroastrianism is no longer a state religion, it still exists under Islamic rule, facing a gradual decline and diaspora.
Touraj Daryaee on Zoroastrianism in the Seventh Century and Beyond
Q: What is your take on Zoroastrian dualism?
Zoroastrianism can be seen as monotheistic with dualistic elements, emphasizing Ahura Mazda as the supreme deity, but with other deities and spirits also recognized.
Touraj Daryaee on Zoroastrianism in the Seventh Century and Beyond
Q: What is the state of Zoroastrianism under the Sasanians?
The Sasanian Empire supported Zoroastrianism as the dominant religion, promoting it through state and religious practices.
Matthew Melvin-Koushki on Islam, ‘the West’, and Western Esotericism
Q: Why would you hold on to the West in light of that?
It's a utilitarian, strategic thing. If we take the West out of Western Esotericism, nothing will change.
One Empire, Many Names: Reading “Byzantium” with Anthony Kaldellis
Q: What is the importance of the East Roman scriptorium tradition for the history of Western Esotericism?
The East Roman scriptorium tradition is crucial because it preserved ancient texts that are foundational for understanding Western esotericism, including astrology, magic, and philosophy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

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

This show offers rigorous, scholarly explorations of Western esoteric thought across historical periods and religious traditions. Episodes frequently center on key figures, texts, and schoolings—from Maximus the Confessor and early Christian orthodoxy to apocalyptic writings, Zoroastrianism in late antiquity, Shi'ī esotericism, and Qur'anic textual history. The host steers conversations toward historical context, textual transmission, and intellectual lineage, often pairing textual analysis with broader cultural and political dynamics. Listeners can expect deep-dive discussions with university-affiliated guests, a strong emphasis on primary sources, and nuanced debates about how esoteric ideas intersect with mainstream religion, philosophy,... more

Where can I find podcast stats for this podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to this podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does this podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for this podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for this podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for this podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does this podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers this podcast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Weird Studies
2. History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
3. Why Theory
4. The Dig
5. This Jungian Life Podcast

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 8 years ago and published 215 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact this podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for this podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for this podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for this podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of this podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Maria Papathanassiou
2. Jonathan Greig
3. Christopher Bonura
4. Martha Himmelfarb
5. Touraj Daryaee
6. Ahab Bdaiwi
7. Fred Donner
8. Matthew Melvin-Koushki

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days