It starts like every good occult ritual should—with a little tech chaos.
Mics fail. AirPods revolt. Ghosts in the Zoom machine. But then, suddenly, clarity. And what follows is one of the wildest, most riveting conversations we’ve ever recorded.
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 party
This is the episode where history, magic, pop culture, and RPGs all slam together like dimensions collapsing in on themselves.
🔥 Listen now. Because reality isn’t what it used to be.
👉 Click here to hear the full episode
Executive Producers
Oracles
Bad Company • Buck Gregory • Christopher Phillips • Derek Semsick • DrawnCap • DrunkDez • Jason Vines • Rebecca Pool • Sean Gallagher • Spartacus • The Krewe of Erebus
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 • Daniel Cuppen • Daniel Scribner • Darren Hennessey • David Röhe • Ean Robertson • EBG • Eric Schwenke • George Lara • Gray -Trilug- H • Guy Stewart • Ia Bull • James B • Jason Kennedy • Jenna F • Jeremy Z • Jervis Johnson • JadeBarroth • 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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Great interview! I’m familiar with Gary’s books, but learned some interesting and fun things about him. Also enjoyed his definition of Magick: induced synchronicity.
We’re glad you enjoyed our chat with Gary! You might enjoy our conversations with Arden Leigh, Douglas Rushkoff, and Richard Metzger, which are part of our series of chats with scholars and practitioners of magic.