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

Earl Fontainelle
  • 4.8 (51)
  • Education
  • Updated weekly

Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

  1. 13 May

    Three Ancient Sages: On East Roman Magical Books

    Looking through the lens provided by three central figures of the western esoteric tradition -- Hermes Trismegistus, Apollonios of Tyana, and King Solomon -- we discuss three important East Roman magical books whose influence echoes from the end of late antiquity until the present day.

    56 min

  2. 1 Apr

    Gerasimos Merianos on East Roman Alchemy in Late Antiquity and Beyond, Part II

    We delve further into the laboratories, workshops, and even state coffers of East Rome with Gerasimos Merianos. East Roman alchemy becomes mathematised. The parameters of alchemical secrecy change. We encounter our first alchemical con-men. And Michæl Psellos showcases his ability to see which way the wind is blowing, this time in the realm of high-stakes alchemical politics.

    39 min

  3. 25 Mar

    Gerasimos Merianos on East Roman Alchemy in Late Antiquity and Beyond, Part I

    In Part I of a two-parter we explore the contours of East Roman alchemy from the seventh century onward. Gerasimos Merianos is our guide to the many and varied authors writing in the alchemical genre aside from (but including) the great Stephanos. The roots of the western alchemical tradition lie in the east.

    46 min

  4. 4 Mar

    The Horoscope of Islām and The Alchemical Stone: Maria Papathanassiou on Stephanos of Alexandria, Part II

    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.

    33 min

  5. 25 Feb

    Philosophy and Occult Sciences at Constantinople: Maria Papathanassiou on Stephanos of Alexandria, Part I

    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 more.

    42 min

  6. 07/12/2025

    Esoteric Orthodoxy in East Rome: Jonathan Greig on Maximus the Confessor

    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, sometimes to his own cost.

    1hr 13min

  7. 26/10/2025

    Introducing the Apocalypse of the Pseudo-Methodios, with Christopher Bonura

    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.

    1hr 12min

  8. 27/09/2025

    Jewish Apocalypse in the Seventh Century: Martha Himmelfarb on the Sefer Zerubbabel

    In this interview we explore a crucial document of seventh-century Judaism: the Sefer Zerubbabel, an apocalyptic ‘future history’ allegedly written in the past. The Temple will descend, the evil Armilus (son of Satan and a statue) will wreak havok, and two messiahs will arise to redeem Israel.

    48 min
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Exploring the forgotten and rejected story of Western thought

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