The Salem Witch Podcast

Travis McHenry has done much in his time on this planet. He's been a professional actor, working in Hollywood among some of the most recognizable names in the industry. He's tried his hand at writing and directing films. He was a Naval Intelligence Specialist for eight years. He's developed an entire line of tarot decks rooted in Solomonic, Goetic Magic. And he's founded his very own country, from which he and his team conduct Environmental work that they hope will help turn the tide of climate change. He agreed to sit down for a conversation with me on, among other things, what we can glean from the world of the Esoteric that might help us get out of the materialist pickle that Western Civilization seems to be caught in. We also talk about what it was like to be a big time actor, why he quit, how he came to develop his decks, his time in the military, and much more. Check out the timecodes below for a brief overview of our conversation. And be sure to check out the long list of Travis's links below the timecodes.   0:00-2:09 Intro 2:10-3:55 How does Travis balance being an occultist, CEO, Environmentalist, and more? 3:56-10:01 Why Travis (and I) left acting 10:02-11:54 Exploring Travis' film "Cult of Cthulu" 11:55-13:10 Travis' directing history 13:11-17:29 The history of the Occult Tarot and Bloodstone Studios 17:30-19:47 What Is Travis's attraction to Goetic or Solomonic Magic? 19:48-20:10 Does Travis McHenry consider himself a ritual Magician? 20:11-24:21 How a secret coven introduced Travis to the occult 24:22-25:52 Rapid fire! Travis's thoughts on Bigfoot 25:53-27:58 What is going on when people "see" Bigfoot? 27:59-31:32 Rapid fire! Travis's thoughts on The Grays 31:33-32:52 What was Travis's time as a Naval Intelligence Specialist like? 32:53-33:14 Did Travis come across many Esotericists in the Navy? 33:15-36:00 What does Travis wish civilians knew about serving in the Navy? 36:08-37:02 Travis's transition from Navy Specialist to Actor 37:03-40:14 From California to Las Vegas 40:15-43:46 What's it like to transition from East Coast Magic to West Coast Magic? 43:47-45:06 Why New Orleans is the epicenter of Ritual Magic in the United States 45:07-47:13 Is there still magic in Salem? 47:14-47:46 Does mass appeal tarnish magical products? 47:47-51:23 Exploring masculinity in contemporary Esotericism 51:24-54:25 How are the Occult and Art married in Travis's mind? 54:26-58:26 What has gone wrong in Western thought and how can the Esoteric fix it? 58:27-1:02:32 How the Chinese system of government and spirituality have and will continue to endure 1:02:33-1:03:27 How China might reverse its environmental toll 1:03:26-01:04:00 Travis' environmentalist background 01:04:01-01:06:58 How Travis founded his own country 01:06:59-01:08:15 The demographics of Travis' nation 01:08:16-01:09:36 What is the day-to-day of running a country? 01:09:37-01:13:12 What is the ultimate goal of Westarctica? 01:13:13-01:15:55 How running a country in-person might work 01:15:56-01:17:00 What spurred Travis into Environmentalism? 01:17:01-01:18:07 Where to find out more about Travis 01:18:08-01:19:07 Outro   Cult of Cthulu trailer: https://vimeo.com/148741429 Bloodstone Studios: https://www.bloodstone.info/ Occult Tarot: https://amzn.to/3pY2EHT Angel Tarot: https://amzn.to/2Jkoxju Into the Abyss: https://amzn.to/36dzInv The Hieronymus Bosch Tarot: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfNCo4DHJ4f_25uOnoHn6P4TcJ3vzmlavQwrBTUI3ghumJzOg/viewform http://travismchenry.com/ https://www.westarctica.info/   Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/joelaustin Facebook: https://facebook.com/tosalemsite Instagram: https://instagram.com/tosalemsite Twitter: https://twitter.com/tosalemsite https://linktr.ee/Joelaustin   Like the Salem Witch Podcast? Then check out the clips channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHCWfQiK25xT8v9-55e3PIA  

If you're thinking about visiting Salem, you'll definitely want to check out this interview with Ron Martin. He's one of the most knowledgeable minds out there on the Salem tourism scene and he recently put his over 20 years' worth of Salem adventures into a travel book (link below) titled Discover Salem: A Tour Guide for the Witch City. He's also obsessed with the Salem Witch Trials and hosts the definitive Trials history podcast, the Salem 1692 podcast. This episode is really just two Salem nerds geeking out about a place we both adore. It also serves as a fantastic introduction to the city and its tourism market for anyone who hasn't been before. Our conversation ranges from the implications of hyper commercialization to the best places to check out in Salem and a whole lot more. Check out the timecodes to bounce to a particular section. And continue below that for links to Ron's work.   01:50 Skip Intro 02:10 Salem Massachusetts Halloween 2020 conversation 04:44 How Ron Martin got interested in Salem 06:40 Danvers and the still remaining Salem Witch Trials locations 09:12 Ron's first trip to Salem  14:05 What long-distance travelers to Salem should know about the cost of visiting the city 15:29 What's our favorite place to stay in Salem? 17:48 Is The Merchant hotel haunted? 19:15 My Salem ghost story at the Hotel Salem 24:50 There are ghosts everywhere in Salem 25:16 Ron's ghost experiences in Salem 28:33 What about Salem keeps Ron coming back? 33:04 A conversation on the Salem 1692 Podcast 38:05 What is so fascinating about the Salem Witch Trials? 43:57 Our understanding of the Salem Witch Trials is still changing 45:10 Does Salem do a good job of adequetely representing the With Trials? 47:12 Are Salem Witch Trials attraction exploiting the victims of the 1692 hysteria? 56:50 Is there anything Ron would change about Salem's attractions scene? 59:19 Could and should the Peabody Essex Museum do a better job with the Witch Trials? 01:02:05 How could you stop bad Witch Trials attractions from springing up? 01:08:15 A covnersation on history versus entertainment and how Ron's book can help 01:12:38 Rapid fire Salem recommendations from Ron Martin   Ron's Work: The Salem 1692 Podcast: http://www.ihatestuff.net/category/salem-1692-podcast/ Discover Salem: A Tour Guide for The Witch City: https://amzn.to/3nf23zp Ron on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ihatestuff/   Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/tosalemsite Instagram: https://instagram.com/tosalemsite Twitter: https://twitter.com/tosalemsite   Like the Salem Witch Podcast? Then check out the clips channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHCWfQiK25xT8v9-55e3PIA  

What's it like to be a tour guide and fiction author in Salem, Massachusetts? I had these questions on the mind when I asked Rory O'Brien on the show. He's a fiction lover, native New Englander, walking tour guide in Salem, and the author of the Lennox series, a fictional cop procedural/thriller saga set in the witch city.   Our conversation covered a whole wide range of topics, which you can check out via the questions below. Generally, we talk about writing Salem fiction, what it's like on the ground in Salem these days, and the many tensions that are at play in the Salem tourism industry. It's a fascinating conversation with an equally fascinating guest.   Skip Intro: 00:04:40 How did Rory end up in Salem? 00:04:51 When did Rory start doing tours in Salem? 00:05:50 What is it like to be a walking tour guide in Salem? 00:06:10 What is Rory's tour like in Salem? 00:08:02 What is it like being in the Salem tourism industry? 00:09:58 What era of Salem's history is the most appealing to you? 00:12:20 What are some of the most common misconceptions about the Salem Witch Trials? 00:013:53 As a skeptical person and author, what enchants you about Salem? 00:15:38 What about Salem's history is so fascinating? 00:18:38 What's surprises you about Salem's history? 00:19:33 How are Salem's tour guides dealing with the Coronavirus? 00:21:06 What long-term changes are Salem's tourism industry seeing as a result of COVID-19? 00:22:32 How could tours operate safely in the age of the Coronavirus? 00:23:12 What's it like to do video tours of Salem? 00:24:05 Will there be more books in the Lennox series? 00:24:58 Was "Gallow's Hill" Rory's first novel? 00:28:16 What is it like being a fiction writer in 2020? 00:31:22 How does Rory approach writing the Lennox series? 00:34:35 Does Rory use real Salem crimes to influence his writing? 00:35:13 Which other authors are influencing the Lennox series? 00:36:45 Where do you love to take people in Salem? 00:39:49 Is there a tension between "authentic" Salem attractions and the more alluring, dramatic ones? If so, how does it manifest? 00:41:57 Why isn't there a great Salem history museum? 00:45:52 Where to find out more about Rory 00:48:53   For more about Rory, his blog, books, or to book a tour, check out https://www.roryobrienbooks.com/   Rory O'Brien's Books: Gallow's Hill: https://amzn.to/3oEIthm The Afflicted Girl (Sequel to Gallow's Hill): https://amzn.to/3oCetmt   Check out a sample from Rory's upcoming short story collection here: http://www.merryblacksmith.com/?p=1085   Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Facebook: https://facebook.com/tosalemsite/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/tosalemsite/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/tosalemsite/

Thorn Mooney is among the most fascinating, intelligent Wiccans I’ve come across on the internet. I discovered her via her YouTube channel, where she explores what it’s like to actually live in both the ritualistic world of a practicing Wiccan and the very modern world of a content creator with a day job. While many shy away from exploring this strange space, Thorn instead dives headlong into the weirdness offering videos with titles like, “I’m Not a Professional Witch and That’s Fine with Me,” “Don’t Put Other Witches on Pedestals,” and “Experiences Being a Pagan Content Creator,” among many others.   We spoke a few months back and, after a lot of technical drama that’s not thankfully resolved, by the way, be very careful which podcast hosting provider you choose, I’m thrilled to release our conversation as it ranks, not just among the best on this show, but also as one of the more grounded esoteric conversations I’ve ever had. We explore a wide variety of topics, all circling around the convergence between what we might call modern life and Wicca or Witchcraft broadly.   She wrote Traditional Wicca, A Seeker’s Guide for Llewellyn, with whom she has another upcoming book tentatively titled Next Level Witchcraft. Links to that and all her social profiles below.   00:02:11 Skip to Interview 00:02:30 How did Thorn Mooney get interested in Witchcraft? 00:03:58 If Witchcraft becomes mainstream, does it lose its value? 00:07:19 How does Thorn feel when she comes across blatant commercialization in Witchcraft? 00:14:38 Is the Witch Aesthetic Necessary? 00:17:57 Has Wicca Overshadowed Other Forms of Witchcraft? 00:20:42 How Did the Formalized Study of Religion Impact Thorn’s Wiccan Faith? 00:27:01 How Does Living in the South Impact a Wiccan Practice? 00:37:29 How Does Skepticism Impact Practicing Wicca? 00:41:16 Does Having a Cosmological Framework Matter As Much As Personal Experience? 00:45:15 What Has Being a Pagan, Wiccan Content Creator on YouTube Been Like Over the Past Decade? 00:51:39 Is It Difficult to Navigate the Ethical Constraints Imposed By Social Media as a Wiccan Creator? 01:02:01 Thorn Mooney Explores Her Path Toward Writing Her First Book 01:08:39 How Do You Tell Which Wiccan Books Are Worth Reading? 01:16:58 What Is Thorn Reading? 01:22:51 A Subtle Form of Sexism in Pagan Publishing 01:26:56 Where to Find Thorn Mooney’s Work    Traditional Wicca: A Seeker's Guide - https://amzn.to/3iVqnDP   Thorn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thorn.mooney/ Her Blog: https://thornthewitch.wordpress.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPX1hub6z9z_nMsWGoZk1Bw Twitter: https://twitter.com/tarotskeptic?lang=en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thornthewitch/?hl=en   Find way more about all things Salem at https://tosalem.com/ Facebook: facebook.com/tosalemsite Instagram: instagram.com/tosalemsite Twitter: twitter.com/tosalemsite YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ0np_8AxxWpjlyBTwYdbFw

The creatures of folklore and myth absolutely captivate me. But it wasn’t until I got into exploring the world of the esoteric that I came upon perhaps the most startling realization about such beings: some of them are actually real. The term “fairy” appears in European folklore as a sort of catch-all term to describe a range of types of spirits. Some other familiar creatures from folklore that have, at times, been lumped in with fairies include goblins and gnomes. But generally these spirits are small in stature, humanoid, and wield magical powers such as enchantment and protection. My guest today is Morgan Daimler. Morgan has been thinking about fairies and their place in folklore, myth, and spirituality for a long time. She teaches classes and writes about Irish myth, magical practices, fairies, and much more. Her work includes Gods and Goddesses of Ireland, Fairycraft, Irish Paganism, and many more. I asked Morgan to come on the show because I was fascinated to learn how she views fairies as both mythological figures and ones incorporated in her own spiritual practice as a Wiccan. The conversation was absolutely enchanting and I very much hope you agree.   Check out all of Morgan's Books Here Support ToSalem Here Head to ToSalem.com ToSalem on YouTube ToSalem on Twitter ToSalem on Instagram ToSalem on Facebook