Best Stephanie Shea Podcasts (2024)

1
RR Patreon Tier 3 Excerpts Dr. Aaron French - New Research Updates RE: Ufology, Esotericism, Technology & Religiosity 25:32

18m ago25:32

25:32

Note: This audio upload is a selection of clips taken from the full-length Patreon interview with Dr. Aaron French. To hear the full interview, please visit my Patreon page; you could consider joining to have access to more content like this, or have the option for a one-time purchase of the full episode (visit the 'shop' link for more information …

1
RR Patreon Excerpts Tier 2 Eliott Edge: Are We Living in a Simulation? 1:02:12

5d ago1:02:12

1:02:12

Full Title: Are We Living in A Simulation? Testing Tom Campbell's Consciousness-Based Simulation Theory This hour-long audio clip is a collection of excerpts from a three-hour long conversation with guest Eliott Edge that can be found on my Patreon page. A new option of a one-time purchase is now available as well, if you'd like to listen to the wh…

1
RR Spotlight Drs. Marco Pasi and Wouter Hanegraaff: Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the HHP Centre 41:33

11d ago41:33

41:33

In this special Spotlight interview focusing on an important milestone in academia, Drs. Marco Pasi and Wouter Hanegraaff share their thoughts and opinions as they reflect back on 25 years of work at the Centre for the History of Hermetic Philosophies and Related Currents, otherwise known as the HHP Centre, at the University of Amsterdam in the Net…

1
RR Patreon Excerpt Tier 3- Tommy Cowan: Research Updates on Burroughs, Cutups, Gender, Alchemy & Transformation 45:37

27d ago45:37

45:37

Tommy Cowan is currently a PhD student in the Literature, Media, and Culture program at Florida State University. His primary interest is the confluence between literature and esotericism, including how literatures/texts are conceptualized as esoteric ritual, and the reception/transmission of literary esotericism as an intellectual tradition. He re…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Charlotte Rodgers: Art, Animism & Memory 1:13:28

1M ago1:13:28

1:13:28

My guest this month is Charlotte Rogers. Charlotte is an artist, author, practicing witch and magician. She recently was artist-in-residence at the Magickal Women Conference 2024. Charlotte and I met in 2022 at the Visionary Medium Conference in Copenhagen. I was intrigued by her presentation there and was eager to talk with her more. Although it's…

1
Excerpt RR Patreon Tier 2 'Deep Dive' with Bob Cluness 15:01

1M ago15:01

15:01

This is an excerpt of my recent upload on Patreon Tier 2 'Groves of Orpheus.' If you are interested to hear more, please consider checking out my Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/RejectedReligion. You can find this full interview plus more to come! My guest this month is Bob Cluness. Bob was a guest on the podcast (E28) in December of 2023, an…

1
RR Pod E30 P1 Dr. Phil Legard: Sound, Occulture, & the Imagination 1:06:54

1M ago1:06:54

1:06:54

This month’s guest is Dr. Phil Legard. Phil is senior lecturer in music production at Leeds Beckett University. His research interests lie at the intersection of esotericism, music, and politics. His doctoral work explored autoethnography as a research method for esotericism studies, from which he developed a theory of ‘creative seekership’. With D…

1
Rejected Religion on PATREON - COMING SOON 2:21

2M ago2:21

2:21

Rejected Religion is launching soon on Patreon! As the platform is now celebrating its 5th year anniversary, I thought it would be a perfect time to expand and go in some new directions. I'm really looking forward to providing new content, and hope you'll choose to join me! Thanks as always for your support and I hope to see you soon on Patreon! Im…

1
RR Spotlight Dr. Tara Smith: Warhammer 40K and Spirituality 57:42

4M ago57:42

57:42

Episode release date: May 12, 2024 Dr. Tara Smith is an interdisciplinary academic that works in the fields of science fiction, literature, and popular culture. Currently, she is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School, writing on religious ideas and experiences of people who paint and play wi…

1
RR Pod E29 Mike Marinacci: Psychedelic Cults and Outlaw Churches 1:18:07

7M ago1:18:07

1:18:07

Guest: Mike Marinacci, author of Psychedelic Cults and Outlaw Churches: LSD, Cannabis, and Spiritual Sacraments in Underground America Mike is an independent expert on psychedelic spiritual groups and nontraditional American religious sects. He is also the author of California Jesus and Mysterious California, and coauthor of the bestselling Weird C…

1
Spotlight Dr. Randall Hall: 'Weird' Music, The Sacred, and Initiatory Experiences 1:38:12

7M ago1:38:12

1:38:12

This interview was recorded December 7, 2023. Dr. Randall Hall is professor of music at Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, as well as a performing saxophonist and composer. He's also writing a book about 'speculative' and 'weird' music as it relates to the Sacred and ritual experiences. In this special Spotlight interview, Randall shares h…

1
Spotlight Sue Terry: Magickal Women Conference & Owl House Seminars 1:15:44

7M ago1:15:44

1:15:44

This video aired on March 31, 2023 on Rejected Religion's YouTube Channel. New courses are available at Owlhouse Seminars. Sue Terry has an MA from the University of Surrey where her dissertation was _The Magician Goes Further: The Occult Oblique View in the Short Fiction of Mary Butts_. Sue is now a PhD candidate at Surrey researching feminist occ…

1
RR Pod E28 P2 Bob Cluness -An Esoteric Menagerie: The Weird & Eerie, Slenderman, CCRU, Accelerationism, Chaos Magic(k) and Digital Technology 1:44:33

10M ago1:44:33

1:44:33

In Part 2, we sit with the concept of accelerationism, how it is occultural in its original form (in Bob’s opinion), its problems, its appropriation by far-right groups, and the related sticky problems of capitalism and neoliberalism that are currently associated with accelerationist thinking in these circles. The conversation from here continues t…

1
RR Pod E28 P1 Bob Cluness -An Esoteric Menagerie: The Weird & Eerie, Slenderman, CCRU, Accelerationism, Chaos Magic(k) and Digital Technology 1:29:07

10M ago1:29:07

1:29:07

This month’s guest is Bob Cluness. Bob is a PhD candidate and researcher in the cultural studies program at the University of Iceland in Reykjavik. Bob graduated in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in film studies on accelerationist aesthetics and action cinema, while in 2020 he received a master’s degree in cultural studies with a thesis on the weird…

1
RR Pod E27 Dell Rose- Cultural Receptions of Emanuel Swedenborg: Connecting the Spiritual with the Material 1:17:05

1+ y ago1:17:05

1:17:05

My guest this month is Dell J. Rose. Dell is a cultural historian and current Ph.D. researcher at the University of Amsterdam’s HHP Center. He is also the recipient of the Swedenborg Doctoral Scholarship from the Swedenborg Society in the UK. Dell holds a Bachelor's degree, with majors in English, History, and Religion, and a Master's degree in Fol…

1
RR Pod E26 Prof.Dr. Wouter J. Hanegraaff: Hermetic Embodiment, Interpretation, & Imagination 2:01:19

1+ y ago2:01:19

2:01:19

It was my pleasure to speak with Prof. Dr. Wouter Hanegraaff about his new book, Hermetic Spirituality and the Historical Imagination: Altered States of Knowledge in Late Antiquity. As Wouter preferred not to give a general summary, I chose four very important themes of the book to discuss: what the Hermetica is really all about; the notion of embo…

1
RR Pod E25P2 Dr. Luke Walker- Allen Ginsberg & His Blakean Revival: 'Counterculture' and Esoteric Intersections 1:08:49

1+ y ago1:08:49

1:08:49

In Part 2, Luke and I discuss the esoteric connections and intersections with the figures of Blake and Ginsberg. We talk about in the influence of Emmanuel Swedenborg and Gnosticism on the worldviews of both Blake and Ginsberg, how Ginsberg saw Buddhism and Gnosticism as being connected in a syncretic way, and what contemporary artists could be vie…

1
RR Pod E25P1 Dr. Luke Walker- Allen Ginsberg & His Blakean Revival: 'Counterculture' and Esoteric Intersections 1:13:06

1+ y ago1:13:06

1:13:06

In Part One, Luke discusses the great influence of the poet and artist William Blake on Allen Ginsberg, one of the most influential people from the Beat Generation and the ‘counterculture’ movement of 1960s United States. He also talks in detail about Ginsberg’s “Blake Vision,” the name Ginsberg gave to a series of extraordinary events in his life …

1
Spotlight Cavan McLaughlin - Trans-States Exhibition & Conference Series 39:48

2y ago39:48

39:48

In this interview, Cavan McLaughlin begins by discussing his motivation and inspiration to create the Trans-States platform, that focuses strongly on bridging the gaps between the academic and larger esoteric/occult communities. Cavan is an artist, filmmaker and media producer as well as an academic lecturer, and this multi-disciplinary aspect is e…

1
RR Pod E24 P2 Dr. Aaron French - US from the Future? Magic & Technology: Rosicrucians, Steiner, New Age & UFOs 57:44

2y ago57:44

57:44

In Part 2, Aaron and I look at different related threads that one encounters when delving into this topic; in particular, how Aaron's research ties into a topic that I had talked about last year with regard to the recent documentary-type show called 'Hellier' (specifically with regard to a man named Allen Greenfield). This links to high strangeness…

1
RR Podcast E24 P1 Dr. Aaron French - US from the Future? Magic & Technology: Rosicrucians, Steiner, New Age & UFOs 1:23:34

2y ago1:23:34

1:23:34

In Part 1, Aaron and I explore many different rabbit holes regarding esotericism and high strangeness. Aaron begins by expanding on his earlier presentations that he gave this year on this topic; he's looking at the relationship between technology and magic, and is asking, 'how does technology reenchant the world?' One area that we can find a lot o…

1
Spotlight Richard Mason: Arthur Edward Waite & the 'Trinick-Pippet' Tarot 41:23

2y ago41:23

41:23

Richard Mason returns to discuss A.E. Waite's order, The Fellowship of the Rosy Cross, and the special tarot deck developed for private use in rituals. Waite formed the order in 1915 (during WW1) and enlisted the help of artists and a financial backer to create the tarot 'deck,' that is now housed in the British Museum. Notable in the artwork is th…

1
RR Pod E23 Drs. Michelle K. Oing & J. Christian Greer - Kumano Kodo: Pligrimage, Liminality, Spirits, and Sacralization 1:43:37

2y ago1:43:37

1:43:37

In this discussion, Michelle and Christian share their experiences with pilgrimages, and how they came to write their book about the Japanese pilgrimage route known as the Kumano Kodo. As many may not have had their own experiences with pilgrimages, they talk about the reasons that people might choose to go on a pilgrimage, what the purpose is, and…

1
RR Pod E22 Andrea Franchetto (The problems of) Defining 'Magic', Legitimization, and (the importance of) Space in Grimoire Traditions 1:57:58

2y ago1:57:58

1:57:58

In the first part of our interview, Andrea and I discuss the complex issue regarding the definition of 'magic' within the Western historical study of esotericism and/or religion, and how we could perhaps see 'magic' as a meta-category containing 'family resemblances' or 'patterns of magicity' that allow for comparisons of different magical practice…

1
RR Pod E21 Ralph Tegtmeier - Chaos Magic Part 2: Emic Experiences 51:23

2y ago51:23

51:23

In this interview, Ralph shares his own perspectives on many of the topics that Dr. Christian Greer and I had discussed in Episode 19 ('Etic Examinations'). He shares his own background in occultism, 'the state of things' in Germany in the 1970s and -80s, as well as the change in perspective with the introduction of the 'Anglo' or British perspecti…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Occulture Series - Netflix's Archive 81 & Stranger Things 4 34:17

2y ago34:17

34:17

As the Rejected Religion platform is concerned with what is known as 'occulture,' or how the occult is represented and portrayed in popular culture, this video highlights some of the occult references found in two recent Netflix series, Archive 81 and Stranger Things. Please see the 'References' section below for more detailed information concernin…

1
Spotlight Ninian Nijhuis - Western Sidereal Astrology 1:05:24

2+ y ago1:05:24

1:05:24

Ninian Nijhuis holds a Research Master in Religious Studies (University of Amsterdam); a BA in Law and an LL.M. in International Public Law (University of Utrecht). Her main focus is on Western Esotericism and her key fields of interest are Jungian psychology, sidereal astrology, mysticism, spirituality and its connections to science. Additionally,…

1
RR Pod E20P2 Dr. Dylan Burns - Gnosticism: The Metaphysical Twist 1:11:43

2+ y ago1:11:43

1:11:43

In Part Two, Dylan begins by discussing why the gnostic system of thought was considered heretical by Christians. We then talk about the fascinating gnostic text 'The Secret Book of John', and how this creation story is quite different from the one in the Book of Genesis. Eve is not a villian in this tale, but the representative of consciousness an…

1
RR Pod E20P1 Dr. Dylan Burns - Gnosticism: The Metaphysical Twist 1:19:43

2+ y ago1:19:43

1:19:43

Dr. Dylan Burns is Assistant Professor of the History of Western Esotericism in Late Antiquity at the University of Amsterdam. In Part One, Dylan begins by sharing the Gnostic story or revelatory myth that takes place in four acts, so to speak, and the evidence of this story found in texts such as the Nag Hammadi codices. We then move the discussio…

1
Spotlight Korhsi Dosoo: Ancient Magical Papyri and Their Modern Reception 1:16:00

2+ y ago1:16:00

1:16:00

Korshi Dosoo is the leader of the junior research group project 'The Coptic Magical Papyri: Vernacular Religion in Late Antique and Early Islamic Egypt' at the Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg. Formerly ATER (lecturer) at the University of Strasbourg and post-doctoral researcher on the Labex RESMED project Les mots de la paix. His PhD thesi…

1
RR Pod E19 w/ Dr. Christian Greer- Chaos Magic Part 1: Etic Examinations 1:26:24

2+ y ago1:26:24

1:26:24

This month's episode is the first in a 2-part series about chaos magic. Dr. Christian Greer talks about the history of modern magical groups and how these earlier groups led to the birth of the chaos magic current. Christian begins by talking about why the topic of magic (in all its forms) is relevant as an area of research and study. He then gives…

1
Spotlight - Midnight Mass Discussion Panel 1:17:49

2+ y ago1:17:49

1:17:49

Guests: Dr. Jonathon O'Donnell; Brennan Kettelle, MA (res); Tommy Cowan, MA (res) In this special Spotlight episode, my guests and I discuss Netflix's Midnight Mass from various perspectives. We start out with our 'first impressions' of the show, then move to discuss our own talking points based upon each of our own research interests and specialti…

1
RR Pod E18 'Listener Response' with artist Michael Carter 1:40:13

2+ y ago1:40:13

1:40:13

This episode is a special 'listener response' to episode 17's 'esoteric in art,' with guest Michael Carter. Michael is an artist and teacher living in Los Angeles, CA. He holds an MFA from Claremont Graduate University in CA, shows his work in live performances, gives lectures, and and exhibited works in both the U.S. and Europe. Michael's personal…

1
Spotlight with Brennan Kettelle (University of Amsterdam): Queering Lilith 1:01:02

2+ y ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Interview Highlights: Brennan begins by talking about the figure of Lilith as she has been portrayed in historical myths and legends; and then moves to more modern interpretations of Lilith as a 'dark feminine' archetype, and as a feminist. Our discussion then shifts to how Lilith can be linked to queerness, and how the poet Renee Vivien used Lilit…

1
Spotlight Karen Swartz - Gender, Authority, & the Anthroposophical Society: A Curious Case Study 55:50

2+ y ago55:50

55:50

Karen Swartz (Åbo Academy University) Interview Highlights: Karen shares some of her preliminary research findings regarding four women - Marie Steiner von-Sivers, Ita Wegman, Edith Maryon, and Judith von Halle (not three as I mistakenly mention in the interview) - all deeply involved within the Anthroposophical Society over the past decades and in…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight with Thomas Van Breda (University of Amsterdam) - Dion Fortune: Servant to the Masters 1:12:55

2+ y ago1:12:55

1:12:55

Interview Highlights: Thomas begins by giving some background on Violet Mary Firth, later known as Dion Fortune. He describes her somewhat rebellious nature, and how Fortune did not always agree with the notion that certain things should be kept "secret". However, she did stress the need to be careful and skeptical of those who purport to have the …

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Tommy Cowan- Bill and Bob: Burroughs's Concept of Possession in Relation to Twin Peaks 44:02

2+ y ago44:02

44:02

To view Tommy's presentation, please follow this link to the YouTube Channel Lynchland (Tommy's presentation is in Part IV, near the beginning of the video): Twin Peaks | The Return Online Conference - YouTube Interview Highlights: Tommy begins by talking about his own motivations to create a presentation for the Twin Peaks online conference. We th…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Dr. Joel Bordeaux - Batman, Buddhism & Bricolage: Grant Morrison & The Dark Knight 1:12:30

2+ y ago1:12:30

1:12:30

Video uploaded on YouTube on August 18, 2021 Interview Highlights: Joel begins by sharing how he came to write about Grant Morrison's Batman RIP, and then we dive into many Buddhist concepts that Morrison uses in their story. As Joel explains these concepts, he also points out how Morrison uses them differently than a Buddhist practicioner would - …

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Ninian Nijhuis- Carl G. Jung: Fantasy, Madness, and the Exploration of Consciousness 56:57

2+ y ago56:57

56:57

Interview Highlights: Ninian begins by talking about the recently published Black Books and Red Book by Jung, and how the Black Books acted as journals to explore Jung's own consciousness. She then discusses the fantasy Jung had about a 'madhouse', who Jung 'met' in the fantasy, and what Jung was trying to 'sort out' in all of this. This leads to a…

1
RR Pod E17 P2 Roundtable with Pádraic E. Moore and Ewoud van Rijn - The 'Esoteric Turn' in Contemporary Art: Connection and Communication 53:23

3y ago53:23

53:23

In Part 2, we move the conversation to discuss some points brought up in few academic articles, such as how rituals create a liminal space for connection with the invisible realm; the importance of exhibitions for providing spaces of encounter; the importance of religion or spirituality in the art space; what automatism is; and how art can respond …

1
RR Pod E17 P1 Roundtable with Pádraic E. Moore and Ewoud van Rijn - The 'Esoteric Turn' in Contemporary Art: Connection and Communication 59:13

3y ago59:13

59:13

In Part 1, Pádraic and Ewoud both talk about their backgrounds and their own interests in the esoteric/occult, and then we move on to talk more about the inspiration for 'The Great Invocation' (Garage Rotterdam), plus Ewoud's inspiration for his own installation there. We talk more about the Theosophical Society as a movement and how it relates to …

1
Spotlight Elena Sperner: Real Vampyrism, Identity, Diversity Awareness, and the Role of Religion 1:04:17

3y ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Interview Highlights: As Elena discusses, 'real vampyres' are those who feel a physical need to consume energy, whether it be blood or 'psychic' energy. As her research takes an inclusive, sexuological perspective, Elena suggests that this might be a sexual orientation for some. Her research into fetish identity explores the possible connections be…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight Richard Mason: Arthur Edward Waite and his 'Secret Tradition' 39:40

3y ago39:40

39:40

Interview Highlights: Richard begins by giving a short background and biography of Waite and the people who had a great influence on his life. We discuss Waite's famous tarot deck and the inspiration for it, noting that illustrator Pamela Coleman Smith is often omitted from being mentioned. Richard then talks in more detail about how Waite's 'outsi…

1
RR Podcast E16 P2 Dr. Jenny Butler: Death, the Otherworld & The Good People in Irish Folklore & Contemporary Pagan Worldviews 1:07:30

3y ago1:07:30

1:07:30

Part 2 Highlights: My conversation with Jenny goes in a direction that I had not really anticipated, but was happy to let organically unfold. Jenny begins by talking about the contemporary pagan practices and traditional Irish views about Samhain or Halloween, but from there we talk rather in-depth about the complex relationship between the dead an…

1
RR Podcast E16 P1 Dr. Jenny Butler: Death, the Otherworld & The Good People in Irish Folklore & Contemporary Pagan Worldviews 1:04:48

3y ago1:04:48

1:04:48

Part One Highlights: Jenny begins by explaining the meanings of the terms 'neo-pagan' and 'pagan,' and why she has stopped using the first term and opts instead for 'contemporary pagan.' We then delve into the topic of death and how death and the dead are viewed in Irish traditions, as well as in some contemporary pagan views. The conversation exte…

1
Rejected Religion Spotlight (Audio)- Keith Readdy & Boleskine House Foundation 45:35

3y ago45:35

45:35

Rejected Religion Spotlight with Keith Ready, Chairman of the Boleskine House Foundation Boleskine House: Heritage, History, and Esotericism INTERVIEW HIGHLIGHTS Keith starts our discussion by giving a short background and history of Boleskine House and the surrounding area. We then move to how the house is linked to the area of esotericism/occulti…

1
Rejected Religion October Announcement 2:00

3y ago2:00

2:00

The podcast episode for October will be delayed a bit, but look for a new audio-only version of Rejected Religion Spotlight (featured on YouTube)!By Stephanie Shea

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RR Pod E15 P2 Mriganka Mukhopadhyay 'Voices From Within': An Indian Perspective on the Theosophical Society in 19th c. Calcutta 1:00:05

3y ago1:00:05

1:00:05

In Part 2, Mriganka discusses two important figures within the Indian Theosophical Society - Peary Chand Mittra and Mohini Chatterji - how they became 'on the radar' of Blavatsky and Olcott, their differing ideas and perspectives, and how escalating tensions led to a break between Mohini Chatterji and Blavatsky. Mriganka talks in particular about h…

1
RR Pod E15 P1 Mriganka Mukhopadhyay 'Voices From Within': An Indian Perspective on the Theosophical Society in 19th c. Calcutta 52:52

3y ago52:52

52:52

In Part 1, Mriganka gives an outline of the cultural, social, and religious history in Bengal, and the beginnings of the Theosophical Society in India - why Calcutta was so attractive to Helena Blavatsky and Henry Olcott, and who they were interested in as potential members. Mriganka also gives an explanation of particular terms that we use often i…

1
RR Pod E14 P2 Stewart Clelland: Freemasons, The Green Book of the Élus Coëns & Gnostic Reintegration 1:04:21

3y ago1:04:21

1:04:21

In Part 2, Stewart offers a rich and very detailed discussion of the aristocratic elite group of the Élus Coëns. He discusses their formation, their Gnostic (world-hating) beliefs, their rituals, why the group dispersed and how it morphed into what is now known as Martinism. Stewart also discusses the underlying nationalism that seems to accompany …

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