This week on Mage: The Podcast, we’ve got something special for you—two deep dives into the ever-shifting world of magic and role-playing!
First, 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’ll talk about the changing face of magic in society, its impact on public figures, and how Storytellers can weave true magical sensibilities into their campaigns.
Then, we chat with Richard Metzger, lifelong explorer of the occult and host of the Magick 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.
Whether you’re a seasoned mage or just stepping onto the path, these conversations will challenge your thinking, spark your imagination, and maybe even change how you see magic in the 21st century.
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—exploring the elite’s vision of post-human evolution and the rising influence of tech billionaires such as Elon Musk, and Peter Thiel.
- Donald Trump, Norman Vincent Peale and The Power of Positive Thinking.
- Douglas’s Substack newsletter.
- Richard Metzger
- Early fascination with magic through TV shows like Bewitched and mythical figures like Merlin.
- Aleister Crowley’s magick as an act of willpower
- Radionics: electronic devices believed to manipulate reality, as explored by figures like John W. Campbell and William Burroughs (search on Etsy for handmade devices).
- Overview of the Magick Show, featuring interviews with 55+ magicians, witches, and scholars!
- Arden Leigh, chaos magician and Grant Morrison’s magical heir
- Follow Richard Metzger: MagickSchool.net
- Alan Moore’s The Great When
- Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles
Executive Producers
Oracles
Bad Company • Buck Gregory • Christopher Phillips • Derek Semsick • DrawnCap • DrunkDez • Jason Vines • Rebecca Pool • Sean Gallagher • Spartacus • The Krewe of Erebuss
Archmasters
Berto • Brad-O-the Blue • Dan Svensson • Glacial Indifference • Jeffois • Leroy Bryce • Morgan Aran • Wolf Larryson
Acolytes
Aleks • Alexia • Ambiversion • Anders S • Ben Bandelow • Blaise Hebert • Bruno Teixeira • Bryce Perry • Bubba, The Pale One • Chartan • Cig • Curtis Hendricks • Darren Hennessey • Daniel Cuppen • Daniel Scribner • Dan Svensson • David Röhe • Ean Robertson • EBG • Eric Schwenke • Gray -Trilug- H • Guy Stewart • Ia Bull • James B • Jason Kennedy • Jenna F • Jeremy Z • Jervis Johnson • Kathleen Hailperin • Kevin Fitzpatrick • Khris Kinner • Leslie Weatherstone • Lolz & stuff • Loren Jensen • Manel Canós • Matthew Proehl • Maurice Hopkins • Melissa Krause • Michael Parker • Nebero • Nikita Kleymenov • Patrick McNamara • RobH • Ryan • Ryan Kendy • Ryan Stray • Samuel Tobin • Sev Nessus • Shell Konch • Starfish • Stefan Carton • Tyler Bryan • Will Vincent • Ygard
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