Discover the secret history of cults, witches, magicians, conspiracies and the supernatural with occultism scholar Rob C. Thompson. His crew of Alchemical Actors explore life’s mysteries with a blend of research, ritual, and old-fashioned radio drama.
…
continue reading
This unique podcast 'flips the marketing conversation' by focusing on how companies can build the brand and drive growth, by marketing to their most powerful brand advocates, their employees. Hosted by Kerry-Ann Betton Stimpson.
…
continue reading
For parents like me who chose to share 2010’s revival of My Little Pony with my children, the animated series’ emphasis on social-emotional learning is the primary draw; however, these lessons are framed in distinctly occult terms. The series is subtitled “friendship is magic” and while this may suggest that friendship is awesome, in the context of…
…
continue reading
In this 50th episode, international bestselling author and thought leader, Seth Godin, shares profound insights on why internal marketing is crucial for sustained employee engagement and performance; the difference between management and leadership; and the cost of getting new customers versus the importance of treating frontline employees well. Tu…
…
continue reading
We're joined by Alyce Spencer of the Witch Way Youtube channel, an expert on all things witchy in popular media. We talk about how the witch is represented in Western culture across time from Betwitched to Sabrina with plenty of stops along the way. Visit Alyce at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5gfF-v77EiVQqcUZHKx4pA…
…
continue reading
Americans are largely responsible for discovering how to make exercising a cult. The link between exercise and the spiritual life of the exerciser wasn't invented after Y2K nor were intense fitness, demanding fitness routines. But bringing these things together into a practice designed to cultivate commitment to the corporatized and franchised exer…
…
continue reading
Delve into the transformative impact of internal marketing on employee engagement and company success. Workshop's VP of Marketing, Jamie Bell, reveals powerful strategies and real-world examples of aligning internal and external brand efforts. Discover how creating an engaging employee experience can elevate your brand and drive business growth, wi…
…
continue reading
Norwegian black metal in the 1990s served as the soundtrack for murder, suicide, and the burning of churches dating to the medieval period across the country with the musicians themselves at the center of these crimes. Andrew Mimms takes over the microphone to tell the story of the militant Satanist Black Circle who gathered a record store called H…
…
continue reading
Synanon is really two different organizations separated by time with the same origin and some of the same personnel sort of like 1960’s Jefferson Airplane and 1980’s Starship. One has very little do with the other close-up but from a far enough distance they look kind of similar. The psychologist Steven Simon calls these two groups Synanon I and Sy…
…
continue reading
In the 1980s, the game Dungeons and Dragons or, more specifically, its creators and players were accused of operating a Satanic cult. Luke takes the lead microphone to explore the strange events that led to this profound confusion between the fantasy world of the game and the real world of 1980s America. Warning: this episode contains references to…
…
continue reading
Diversity, equity & inclusion (DE&I) is both a business imperative and a core component of a thriving organizational culture. Embedding DE&I in the company culture realizes massive business benefits for those companies that have it as a genuine organizational belief. Professor and best-selling author, Marcus Collins, offers valuable insights for le…
…
continue reading
Multilevel marketing groups or MLMs engage in legal pyramid-style schemes that escape laws against such schemes because of the involvement of products including everything from make-up and detergent to diet pills, shampoos, and nutritional supplements. Nikki Hiller Henderson takes the microphone to lead the second of our actor-hosted episodes in ou…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode #47 - How Employees Can Start Creating Content (with Sara Stella Lattanzio) - BONUS EPISODE
29:43
If you are a company employee who wants to start creating content on social platforms like LinkedIn, or if you are a company that'd like to empower its employees to start creating content, then this episode is for you. Sara Stella Lattanzio, LinkedIn Top Voice and B2B marketing strategist, shares insights from her journey, highlighting the importan…
…
continue reading
(Part 2 is now available on the Strange Ride channel). In this Strange Ride/Occult Confessions crossover episode Savannah kicks off OC’s newest season “cults that aren’t cults” by looking at the Secret Space Program conspiracy theory. The human race is under attack, and the earth needs all of our help if we’re going to survive to the end of this wa…
…
continue reading
Rob and Luke talk with author and witch Gabriela Herstik about her new project, "Goddess Energy: Awakening the Divine Feminine through Myth and Magick." Gabriela talks about the intersections of Judaism and neo-paganism in her own practice, the many faces and incarnations of the goddess, and sex magic. For more about Gabriela's work visit linktr.ee…
…
continue reading
This graduation season, Rob was asked to be a commencement speaker for Chesapeake College's ceremony. In this special episode, Rob shares his speech with the confessors and talks intimately about what the opportunity means to him and what he hopes for the future of the species. .由The Alchemical Actors
…
continue reading
The Georgia Guidestones arrived mysteriously and disappeared violently, shrouded in secrecy as a monument intended to direct future generations of human beings. Rob sits down with Bryan Delius to discuss his research on the Guidestones and discover the full story of what became of the monument.由The Alchemical Actors
…
continue reading
The Morrigan is a perplexing figure to make clear sense of for the reasons that all Celtic mythology is similarly perplexing: it was part of an oral tradition that was only recorded in the medieval period after the believers in the Morrigan had long since disappeared. Unlike the fairly extensive record of the Greco-Roman deities, the references to …
…
continue reading
The legends of Rhiannon come primarily from the Mabinogion, a cycle of fourth Welsh myths that tell, in part, the story of Pwyll Pen Annwn who married Rhiannon. The stories date to the twelfth century although their origins likely go much further back in Celtic history. Rhiannon is a Welsh witch or druid who uses her power to escape an unwanted cou…
…
continue reading
In the second part of our discussion, we turn from myth to historical documents and consider what the druids may have been like as a caste. What jobs did they perform in Celtic culture? How did their role inform what it meant to be a Celt? We also discuss modern neo-Druids and how their practices relate to the history.…
…
continue reading
In an episode recovered from the dustbin of our archive, we invite you to explore with us the strange lore of the Infertile Order and the Myth of the Cheese. Did Hiram Miraalaarn encounter planetary nymphs on his way to Venus? Are the birds to blame for our inability to pair music and lyrics in the Song of Lurm? Find out in today's very special epi…
…
continue reading
Druids were a part of ancient celtic culture—a series of kingdoms or empires that stretched through Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Britain, and Gaul—the region of modern France as well as parts of Belgium and Italy. The Celts were distinct in each region but also shared important cultural structures and practices as well as language. Part of the challen…
…
continue reading
We sit down with Ed Crimi, owner of the Vampa Vampire Museum in Doylestown, Pennsylvania and talk about his collection of vampire kits collected from around the world. Crimi also tells us about the room in museum devoted to the Archangel Michael. For more about the museum, visit: https://www.vampamuseum.com.…
…
continue reading
Civista Bank's Autumn Jose shares the journey of implementing their successful employee ambassador/advocacy program. She provides key insights such as the importance of aligning the program with the employees and bringing them into the action, how to engage with executive leadership, the tools they used, and how they measured success. This episode …
…
continue reading
The Aghoris are a sect who worships Shiva by way of Shakti or the goddess, often in the form of Kali or Tara. They spend their time at the crematorium in the sacred city of Banares or bathing in the cold waters of the Ganges in winter. They strive to overcome aversion by confronting what humans are most averse to beginning with death itself.…
…
continue reading
Learn about the importance of personal brand building for C-suite level executives and how it can influence the progress and growth of their respective companies. Corporate trainer, Cher Jones, offers insights on how leaders can enhance their presence online; gives practical tips on balancing professional and personal content; and explains the sign…
…
continue reading
How has ancient Gnosticism resurfaced as a new religion in the modern and postmodern world? Rob introduces the path of gnosticism into modern occultism and Rob and Luke interview Paul Joseph Rovelli, founding director of the Gnostic Church of L. V. X., and the church's social media director Joseph DeOliveira.…
…
continue reading
This episode is a must-listen for any company looking to maximize their internal marketing efforts and how to engage and empower their employees to become ambassadors of their brand. Learn about the importance, the benefits and how to implement an effective employee ambassador program. Andrew Seel, CEO of Togethr, shares how such programs not only …
…
continue reading
In modern occultism, Isis is often regarded as a bearer of mysteries and a symbol of feminine power. When Helena Blavatsky invoked her name in the title of her first major work, Isis Unveiled, she sought to reveal the hidden spirituality of the East through an Egyptian lens; a religion that she claimed sat at the heart of all worship and was more t…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode #43 - Incorporating Internal Marketing into Marketing Strategy (with Margaret Molloy)
31:06
Under pressure to build brand and drive growth, more CMOs and business leaders are recognizing that employees are the brand, because employees are the ones charged with delivering on the brand promise to the customer. Internal marketing to employees, therefore, must become a critical part of the overall marketing strategy. Margaret Molloy, CMO/exec…
…
continue reading
Imposter syndrome is a common reason why employees aren't able to be advocates of the company brand. What's more, it has been shown that company leadership and culture can impact if and how imposter syndrome shows up in employees. Speaker and writer in this area, Jodi-Ann Burey, shares how companies can help their employees to overcome imposter syn…
…
continue reading
The Gnostics believed they had access to the truth; the real truth, not the truth that everyone else thinks is the truth. Everyone who's not a Gnostic that is. While there are certain themes that tend to unite Gnostic groups, they were actually quite distinct and widespread across the Christian world in the time of the Church Fathers. Christian Gno…
…
continue reading
Yes, internal marketing can actually help to improve team synergy and productivity...which ultimately impact the bottom line. In this episode, Jimmy Burroughes shares some valuable insights into how you can leverage the power of internal marketing to enhance how your teams work. The Internal Marketing Podcast is the unique podcast series that 'flip…
…
continue reading
In 2015, a jury found John Jonchuck guilty of murdering his own daughter by throwing her off of a bridge over Tampa Bay. In this special episode, Bri considers the religious ideation and delusions of Jonchuck, including his obsession with a Swedish Bible, and why they did not justify an insanity plea.…
…
continue reading
Eleusis is a town outside of Athens where the Greeks conducted a secret rite of initiation in honor of the goddess of the earth, Demeter, and her daughter and queen of the underworld, Persephone. The rite may have dated before the Greek Dark Ages, more than a thousand years BCE, and could have had its roots in a still more ancient agrarian cult. El…
…
continue reading
If you've heard of Dioynsus, you're likely aware of his associations with grapes, wine, and theatre. The famous Theatre Dionysia was the site where some of the ancient world's greatest scripted performances were staged in honor of the god. But what is the connection between wine and theatre? The power of wine to remove inhibitions parallels the pow…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode #40 - How Employees Can Build their Personal Brands on LinkedIn (with Michelle B. Griffin)
31:01
Having employees with strong personal brands on LinkedIn, goes a far way in helping to grow the brand of the companies that they represent. With less than 10% of LinkedIn users sharing content, there is still a huge opportunity for anyone wanting to grow their personal brands on that platform. Certified personal brand strategist and author, Michell…
…
continue reading
In this special listener panel, we discuss representations of occultism in television and film and on the internet.由The Alchemical Actors
…
continue reading
We're going back to the archive for an episode that first posted to patreon in our first year podcasting. This is the first part of three on how rock came to be regarded as the devil's music (to listen to the other two, you'll need to sign up as a patron).由The Alchemical Actors
…
continue reading
Social selling has changed. With so many sales and marketing messages bombarding your target customers, your company needs to know how it can best stand out from the 'noise'. How can you empower employees and implement a winning social selling strategy for your company? Steve Watt, Director of Market Insights at Seismic, shares how. The Internal Ma…
…
continue reading
Lilith was the first woman created alongside Adam as his equal before she quarreled with him and flew away, leaving Adam to ask God for a second wife, Eve. Belief in Lilith is based, in part, on midrash or commentary on the gaps and seeming contradictions in the Bible. Genesis says that the first man and woman are created together as equals and the…
…
continue reading
Being a thought leader can have a powerful impact on both employees' personal brands and the brand of the company that they represent. Marketer, writer and speaker Ashley Faus shares how employees can build their brands as thought leaders, and how the companies they represent can empower them to do so. The Internal Marketing Podcast is the unique p…
…
continue reading
It is not enough for the 80s child to reflect wistfully on a simpler time. Rather, we often want to revive the mass cultural products of our youth in a way that maintains their appeal despite or perhaps because of the cognitive and hormonal shifts that come with adulthood. 80s children have done a decent job of keeping our favorite popular cultural…
…
continue reading
If your company wants its employees to be great advocates/ambassadors of the brand, you'll need to have the kind of company culture that will motivate them to do so. Sarah Goodall, CEO of Tribal Impact, will be sharing how you can foster the kind of company culture that will help to foster employee advocacy in your company. The Internal Marketing P…
…
continue reading
This is part two of our discussion of the ancient serpent seed theory, the idea that Eve had sex with the serpent in the Garden of Eden and conceived one or several children. In this episode we consider more modern ways of reading the serpent seed idea that steer clear of racism. We revisit some old friends including P. B. Randolph and the creators…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode #36 - How Employees Can Use Video to Build their Personal Brands (with Juma Bannister)
37:22
Creating content, using video, is a unique way to build a stand-out personal brand. Why? Because video is the fastest growing form of content that audiences like to consume. For employees who want to build great personal brands, sharing valuable content with video is the way go, and Juma Bannister, Co-founder of Trinidad and Tobago-based Relate Stu…
…
continue reading
What if the serpent didn’t offer Eve an apple when they met in the Garden of Eden? What if, instead, Eve had sex with the serpent, betraying her partner and engendering a race of half-serpent, half-human people? The suggestion may seem bizarre but as a theological theory it’s had a long life and continues to surface in a variety of interpretations …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Episode #35 - How Company Employees Can Build Their Personal Brands (with Christine Gritmon)
38:14
Alot of experts agree. Employees with great personal brands can also help benefit the company brand. But, many employees don’t know how to build their own personal brands. We're kicking off Season 4 with personal brand strategist, Christine Gritmon, who'll share how company employees can build their own personal brands, and how the company brand ca…
…
continue reading
Perhaps more than any other text, the apocryphal Life of Adam and Eve, also known as The Conflict of Adam and Eve with Satan or the First and Second Books of Adam and Eve sought to put Christ in the pre-Christian Garden. But its story was too imaginative or perhaps too surreal to qualify for the Christian canon. Satan plagues the first couple follo…
…
continue reading
We tend to think that the story of Adam and Eve only became a problem from the standpoint of believability after Darwin in the mid-nineteenth-century, but, in fact, the strangeness of the story has dogged Christians throughout history. God creates two people and puts them in a garden to eat and have sex and name some animals. He puts two trees in t…
…
continue reading
We received no requests for L. Ron Hubbard, but Rob became fascinated by his role in Jack Parsons' story and decided to do a deep dive on dianetics-inventing, sci-fi-writing religion founder. Resources for this episode include John Atak's "A Piece of Blue Sky" and Bent Corydon's "L. Ron Hubbard: Mystic or Messiah."…
…
continue reading
Lynn Short was a member of a gnostic group she now describes as a cult. In our interview, Short tells us about how she developed internal sexual and psychological controls that became damaging to live with and how scandals within the organization led her to become an apostate. What are the limits of religious anti-materialism and how does a narrow …
…
continue reading