Mage: The Podcast

In this episode, legendary occult historian and ex-Blondie bassist Gary Lachman joins us to talk magic, Crowley, meme sorcery, and the reality-bending weirdness of the 21st century. From shared dreams in 1970s New York to egregores, astral hobos, and the dark gravity of Trump as a Tulpa, Gary pulls no punches.Show Notes How a hit Blondie song was inspired by psychic experiences Colins Wilson’s books The Outsider and The Occult His involvement with Ordo Templi Orientis Why Crowley’s followers creeped him out Gary’s book, Dark Star Rising: Magick and Power in the Age of Trump The occult revival of the 1970s (and how it compares to today) Why reality itself is up for grabs—and what that means for Mage: The Ascension players The movies Dark City, The Matrix and Forbidden Planet Gary’s forthcoming memoir, Touched by the Presence: From Blondie’s Bowery and Rock and Roll to Magic and the Occult, scheduled for release on November 18, 2025, by Inner Traditions. Plus: what happened when he contradicted David Bowie at a

What makes a great Disparate? Adam and Pooka crack open M20 Forgotten and Forbidden Orders to spotlight the most compelling crafts in Mage 20—from the dream-walking Noma to the sandstorm-riding Taftani. Along the way, they unpack what works, what doesn’t. Also in this episode: TryItCon 2, a listener review, and what happens when your RPG expectations go sideways.Show Notes TryItCon 2: Tarragon Edition – Now recruiting Storytellers and GMs for this online convention (June 13–15) in memory of Terry Robinson, $20 donation-based, proceeds go to charity Night Rangers fiction series ready — Technocratic Texas Rangers fiction M20 Forgotten and Forbidden Orders - Final NPC-focused supplement for Mage 20 The Noma - Reimagined Order of Hermes parallel with African roots The Templars - formerly Christian male militants, now inclusive and post-Christian The Taftâni - Strongest faction presence in Dubai, though questioned for realism The Hollow Ones - Introduces five internal “cliques” (e.g., Moles, Sound Wave Masters) Th

Pooka and Bryce discuss M20 Faces of Magick. One of the final two books of Mage 20, a collection of NPCs, ideas and possibilities.Show Notes M20 Faces of Magick Final NPC-focused supplement for Mage 20 Originally a stretch goal from Lore of the Traditions Kickstarter TryItCon 2: Tarragon Edition – Now recruiting Storytellers and GMs for this online convention (June 13–15) in memory of Terry Robinson

Arden Leigh shares her magical journey—from neuro-linguistic programming and trauma healing to chaos magic, sigils, and becoming Grant Morrison’s magical heir. We explore her concept of “repatterning,” her band Arden and the Wolves, the ethics of magical identity, and the risks and rewards of narrative magic in RPGs like Mage: The Ascension. A vivid, vulnerable, and powerful conversation on transforming belief into reality.Show Notes The Repatterning Project - reprogramming life through self-directed ritual and psychology; course includes weekly lectures and group calls, focusing on assessing and resetting patterns for personal growth Witch blood and how it relates to her own experiences and magical practices The growth of magic culture with the internet, making it more accessible and efficient to learn and practice Competitive nature of magic today and the challenges of maintaining control over one's practice Bringing magic into role-playing games Arden’s upcoming album with her band, Arden and the Wolv

Adam and Pooka discuss Robert W. Chambers' King in Yellow mythos and other stories. Can they inspire Mage stories? Can these two stick to the subject?Yellow Signs: The Decadent Movement and its Influence on Weird FictionBlog article on The Yellow Wallpaper, 1892Free stories onlineCosmic vs. Abrahamic HorrorMage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Terry and 3 other hosts discuss World of Darkness Hong KongMage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Adam’s riding solo on this one, and he’s pulling a bundle of helpful tricks and tips out of his Storyteller’s saddlebag—especially for folks just starting out running Mage games. If you’re a veteran, you might hear some familiar ground, but if you’re new to the Storyteller’s seat, this one’s a gold mine.Show Notes

Adam and Terry discuss Mage20 Sorcerer. What do the sorcerers and psychics of the World of Darkness get up to when they can't learn Sphere magick?Mage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Adam interviews Jiba Anderson, author of the Bata'a chapter in Forbidden and Forgotten Orders.Griot EnterprisesRocbottom StudiosMage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Terry and Michael Mercere discuss six of the Houses of the Order of Hermes.Michael's book Riddle of the SphinxCheck out OoH Tradition Book and OoH Tradition Book Revised.Mage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Pooka G interviews Atalanti Evripidou on her Sisters of Hippolyta chapter Forbidden & Forgotten Orders.We Are Island, published in Luna Station Quarterly issue 060. In Greek, this story was published in issue 37 of "Φανταστικά Χρονικά" magazine.Shanties of the Sunless Vast, published in the anthology "Star Maidens", by MacKenzie Publishing. This is only available on Amazon for now, as far as I know.The Macabre Dance of the Fiddler and Kore, featured in Gallery of Curiosities, can be found on Spotify, YouTube, and other platforms for podcast. It was also reprinted recently in the second issue of Skull and Laurel magazine.Crystal Ash, featured in StarShipSofa no634 and reprinted in Speculative North magazine, issue 4.Shadow Play, published in Flame Tree Fiction Newsletter issue 19.The Pink Casket, published in 34 Orchard, issue 1.In Greek, my short story collection, "Εκείνοι που δεν έφυγαν", was published in Autumn 2024 by ΠΟΛΙΣ.Mage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps

Adam interviews Satyros Brucato on his Solificati chapter in Forbidden & Forgotten Orders.Brucato's Recommendations:The Magician's Reflection by Bill WhitcombThe Doors of Perception by Aldous HuxleyThe Alchemists of Kush by Minister FaustMaynard James Keenan biographyGary Lachman books:Aleister Crowley: Magick, Rock and Roll, and the Wickedest Man in the WorldA Secret History of ConsciousnessTurn Off Your MindOccultureCoyote Wallace's bookRed ShoesValhalla with a Twist of LetheMage the Podcast social media linksWebsitehttp://magethepodcast.comPatreonhttps://bit.ly/MagePatreonBlueskyhttps://bsky.app/profile/magethepodcast.bsky.socialMastodonhttps://dice.camp/@magethepodcastThreadshttps://www.threads.net/@magethepodcastDiscordhttps://discord.gg/7rsy59Zz

Adam chats with longtime contributor Rachelle Udell. Rochelle shares her journey through Mage projects—from her early days to her favorite, The Fallen Tower: Las Vegas—and dives into her hefty chapter on the Ngoma in Forbidden and Forgotten Orders. With wit and warmth, she unpacks magical lore, quirky pronunciations, and rich traditions that keep the Mage universe alive. Enjoy this friendly ride through mystical realms!Show Notes Forbidden and Forgotten Orders. ⁠ Rachelle’s work⁠ on DriveThruRPG Chicago By Night (Vampire: the Masquerade 5th Edition) The Fallen Tower: Las Vegas Bitter Road Mage: The Ascension Revised Edition Orphans Survival Guide Crusade Lore The Disparate Alliance

Hey folks, we’ve got something special for you—a new podcast series featuring our dear friend Terry Robinson, recorded before his passing. With the blessing of his loved ones, we’re rolling out these episodes alongside some fantastic guest co-hosts.In this first installment, co-produced by Pooka (Changeling: The Podcast) and Josh Heath (Werewolf: The Podcast), we explore World of Darkness: Tokyo. We chew over everything from wraith politics to supernatural factions and Japan’s eerie, mystical underbelly. There’s plenty to love and plenty to scratch our heads over—some parts don’t quite hold up, and there are missed chances here and there. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of gold to dig up for your own storytelling!Show Notes World of Darkness: Tokyo World of Darkness: Hong Kong Wraith: The Oblivion Dark Kingdom of Jade Kindred of the East Land of Eight Million Dreams Melissa Uran

Adam sits down with Kim Godwin to chat about about her chapter inForbidden and Forgotten Orders, an upcomingMage: The Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition book. Kim shares her love for TTRPGs, her experience with Mage, and how she reworked the Kahu faction with a stronger cultural foundation. She highlights the importance of preserving traditions while adapting for survival. Kim also shares insights on her horror fiction, webcomics, and a pile of exciting TTRPG projects. Lots of fun, magic, and creativity in this one!Show Notes Kim’s writing credits How Kim reworked the Kahu to better reflect Polynesian culture and history Kim’s experience writing forScion,Trinity,Cursebourne, and other tabletop TTRPGs. Kim’s other projects, including her horror short stories, webcomicTouching the Abyss, and upcoming TTRPGs.

Today we’ve got something special—two deep dives into the world of magic and role-playing! We sit down with Douglas Rushkoff—media theorist, writer, and host of the Team Human podcast—to explore how RPGs, especially Mage: The Ascension, serve as tools for reality manipulation and self-discovery. We talk about the changing face of magic in society, its impact on public figures, and how Storytellers can weave magical sensibilities into their campaigns. Then, we chat with Richard Metzger, lifelong explorer of the occult and host of the Magic Show. He takes us on a journey through the cultural evolution of magic, its place in pop culture, and intriguing ideas like radionics that could bring a whole new layer to modern RPGs. Show Notes Douglas Rushkoff Vampire: The Masquerade, GURPS, and Magic: The Gathering. Genesis P-Orridge and Psychic TV. Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea and Taoist philosophy Douglas’s book,Survival of the Richest: Escape Fantasies of the Tech Billionaires Donald Tr

Adam sits down to talk with ⁠Bill Bridges⁠, developer and author for Mage the Ascension. Bill talks about the early days of White Wolf, his work on Werewolf & Mage, his thoughts on Mage's directions over the years and Mage the Awakening. Check out his work on ⁠Fading Suns⁠.

We are sad to announce Terry Robinson is no longer with us.

A bonus episode featuring some wisdom from the Syndicate.

Twenty one years after the last Tradition Book, Lore of the Traditions gives an update to the Nine Traditions. Adam and Pook walk through where each Tradition is in the 2020s, their favorites, and what they wish they saw more of. Lore of the Traditions on DriveThruRPG