Beste Secret History podcasts (2025)

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 7 1:05:49

21h ago1:05:49

1:05:49

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
When Gamblers and Newspapermen Ruled The Cool Grey City of Love 10:14

6d ago10:14

10:14

Ever wondered who really pulled the strings in San Francisco during its post-war golden age? It wasn't the mayor or the board of supervisors. When the war ended in 1946, San Francisco experienced an unprecedented boom. Servicemen who'd fallen in love with the city returned to stay, nightlife flourished, and business thrived in what appeared to be a…

1
Introducing the Qur’ān, Part I: Revelation, Text, and History 57:03

12d ago57:03

57:03

We cover some basic territory in introducing the Qur'ān, the holiest text of Islām. We introduce the text, discuss the traditional story of the Qur'ān's revelation, the modern text-critical enterprise of Qur'anic studies, and try to pin down the elusive character of this book-that-is-not-a-book.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 6 1:06:06

8d ago1:06:06

1:06:06

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 5 1:07:25

15d ago1:07:25

1:07:25

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 4 1:02:06

21d ago1:02:06

1:02:06

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 3 1:47:44

26d ago1:47:44

1:47:44

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 2 2:44:45

1M ago2:44:45

2:44:45

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
Fred Donner on the History of Early Islām 53:35

2M ago53:35

53:35

We discuss what little we know and how much we don't know about the nature of the early ‘Believers' movement’, the nature and origins of the Qur'ān, the curious case of the so-called Constitution of Medinah, and what went on during the earliest decades of the Arab conquests. Fred Donner is our guide into unknown territory.…

1
The Adventures Of Alfred Hitchcock: Chapter 1 2:39:35

2M ago2:39:35

2:39:35

In the 1920s,Alfred Hitchcock, the son of a shopkeeper, embarked on a career in the fledgling movie industry, and things were never the same again. From silence to sound, from monochrome to colour, from cinema to television, no other film director would stake such a large claim to entertainment in the twentieth century. In this special series of ep…

1
Matthew Melvin-Koushki on Islam, ‘the West’, and Western Esotericism 1:04:29

2M ago1:04:29

1:04:29

We welcome Matthew Melvin-Koushki back to the show to discuss how we might improve our historical picture of western esotericism by including the vast majority of the surviving historical dossier of western esotericism. There's only one problem: in order to do this, we need to embrace the Islamicate world as a major part of the west.…

1
Charles Stang and Jason Josephson-Storm on Theosophy and the Study of Religions 1:05:22

3M ago1:05:22

1:05:22

What if the scientific study of religions, a.k.a. Comparative Religions, History of Religions, and so forth – the academic discipline wherein the academic study of western esotericism largely finds its home – was founded by, well, western esotericists? In this interview we examine the history of the history of religions with two historians of relig…

1
Introducing Islām 1:13:03

3M ago1:13:03

1:13:03

With Episode 200 the SHWEP has reached a milestone of sorts. We are in the seventh century, and the world-order suddenly changes irrevocably as a new political force arises from Arabia: the Believers. We discuss three main respects in which the history of Islam is the history of western esotericism.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Paul Pasquesi on the Book of the Holy Hierotheos 57:40

3M ago57:40

57:40

We discuss one of the lesser-known, but most esoterically-important, classics of Syriac spiritual literature, the Book of the Holy Hierotheos. Hierotheos was said to have been the teacher of Dionysius the Areopagite, but he wrote in Syriac, and taught a suspiciously-Evagrian practice of ascent to god.…

1
The Pseudo-Dionysios, the Esoteric, and (Christian) Mysticism 1:06:05

3M ago1:06:05

1:06:05

We turn to the questions: What is ‘mystical’ in the Corpus Dionysiacum? What is esoteric? The answers we come up with involve pretty much every aspect of the western esoteric traditions, and, after all the initiatory liturgy, esoteric scriptural hermeneutics, and theandric activity are cleared away, there remains the ascent to ‘the ray of the divin…

1
Naming Divine Nothingness: Introducing the Pseudo-Dionysios 1:09:18

3M ago1:09:18

1:09:18

Into the divine darkness of a hyper-non-existent god walks the Pseudo-Dionysios. In this episode we join many esoteric currents from the antique and late-antique past into a new synthesis which will forever shape western esotericism going forward.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Sebastián Moro Tornese on Anagogic Music in Ancient Platonism 1:19:53

4M ago1:19:53

1:19:53

Music was seen as a crucial tool for the elevation and transformation of the human soul in ancient esoteric philosophy from Pythagoras to Olympiodorus, and beyond into the western esoteric traditions of later eras. We discuss the theory and practice of anagogic music in the ancient Pythagorean/Platonist tradition with Sebastián Moro Tornese.…

1
Michæl Griffin on the Virtues in Ancient Platonism: Painters, Dancers, and Godlike Sages 56:36

5M ago56:36

56:36

In the first of a short series of synoptic episodes looking at the esoteric in ancient Platonism as a whole, we approach the scale of virtues, the ladder by which the Platonist sage, following in the footsteps of Socrates, was to practice ascent to likeness with the gods, while still engaging in daily life.…

1
Judith Noble on Magic and Artistic Practice 59:09

5M ago59:09

59:09

We explore the intersections of fine art practice and magic with artistic practitioner Judith Noble. Tricksterish subversion as standard.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Cary: Part 4 3:59:37

5M ago3:59:37

3:59:37

Cary Grant and Barbara Hutton's wedded bliss begins with an adventure upon a lake, and a very starstruck pastor, but it isn't long before the shadows of doubt begin to cast across their happiness, made all the worse by the threat of war, and the spiralling effects of Barbara's vices... If you’ve enjoyed this episode, and would like to aid in its cr…

1
One Empire, Many Names: Reading “Byzantium” with Anthony Kaldellis 1:22:25

5M ago1:22:25

1:22:25

We are delighted to speak with Anthony Kaldellis about ‘Byzantium’, fabled empire full of Greek-speaking Romans which never fell until the fifteenth century, and which plays an outsize role in the history of western esotericism. Come for the historiographical debates about the term ‘Byzantine’, stay for the ‘Byzantine’ court astrology.…

1
Contested Esotericisms at the End of Antiquity: Simplicius, Philoponus, and Olympiodorus 1:00:17

5M ago1:00:17

1:00:17

We discuss three of the most important thinkers from the final generations of philosophical teaching at Alexandria. One is an upstart Christian. Two are esoteric Platonists of the Golden Chain. One may or may not have been an alchemist.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
The Last Platonists? Philosophic Teaching, Christianity, and Polytheism in Late-Antique Alexandria 42:34

6M ago42:34

42:34

We discuss how Platonist philosophical teaching played out at Alexandria before Justinian's edict of 529 and in its aftermath. Featuring cameo appearances from the fall of the western Roman empire and Horapollo's Hieroglyphika.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
All from Nothing: Sara Rappe on Damascius 51:00

7M ago51:00

51:00

We discuss the great Damascius, final scholarch of the Athenian Academy, with Sara Rappe. Things become very apophatic.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Hagia Sophia and the Problem of ‘Esoteric Architecture’ 1:04:02

7M ago1:04:02

1:04:02

We discuss Justinian's great church, Hagia Sophia, the gem of Constantinople and of Orthodox Christianity. We then look at a number of theories out there which read Hagia Sophia as encoding esoteric messages beneath her Orthodox exterior, and use this case-study as a springboard for discussing the thorny problems involved in interpreting architectu…

1
Kevin van Bladel on the Ṣābians of Ḥarrān and the Fate of the Athenian Academy 54:46

8M ago54:46

54:46

We discuss the fascinating town of Ḥarrān (in present-day Türkiye), a place known from late antiquity until at least the eleventh century for its continued tradition of astral, polytheist worship. Kevin van Bladel tells us much to enthral us about this place, but also crushes the dream of a continued tradition of Athenian Late Platonism at Ḥarrān.…

1
Edward Watts on the Age of Justinian and the Closing of the Athenian Academy 1:09:36

8M ago1:09:36

1:09:36

We discuss the life, times, and reign of Justinian, ‘probably the most consequential Roman emperor, at least since Constantine, and maybe since Augustus.’ He transformed the empire; nothing would be the same after his reign. Said reign also saw the closure of the Athenian academy and a number of crucial crises within Christianity, all of which are …

1
Levan Gigineishvili on Ioane Petritsi and the Mediæval Georgian Proclus-Reception 1:05:01

9M ago1:05:01

1:05:01

We discuss the work of Ioane Petritsi (eleventh to twelfth centuries), a Georgian intellectual whose translation of, and commentary on, the Elements of Theology of Proclus is a historical anomaly in a number of ways. It turns out that everything in Proclus' metaphysics – even the henads – could and did make it through into a Christian work in twelf…

1
Jonathan Greig on the East Roman Proclus Reception, Sixth to Fifteenth Centuries 57:34

9M ago57:34

57:34

We discuss the long, convoluted, and often tendentious reception of Proclus and Proclean ideas in the eastern Roman empire. From late-antique debates about the nature of being and participation, through medieval reappropriations of philosophy, through to the radical debates of Plethon and Scholarios in the final days of the empire, Proclus emerges …

1
Danielle Layne on Proclus’ Religious Life and Thought 51:40

10M ago51:40

51:40

We are delighted to discuss what you might call Proclean spirituality with Danielle Layne. Platonic prayer as a way of living, the erotic quest for the Good, and the ever-elusive Platonic Dyad feature in a wide-ranging conversation combining proper philosophical-historical rigour with the true love of wisdom.…

1
Graeme Miles on Proclus the Commentator 43:23

10M ago43:23

43:23

We discuss Proclus' titanic labours in the field of commentary – on many Platonic dialogues, but also on the Chaldæan Oracles, the Homeric poems, and a number of other texts – with Graeme Miles, an acute reader of Platonist philosophy and part of the team translating Proclus' Republic commentary into English. Come for Platonic commentary as spiritu…

1
The Esoteric Proclus, Part II: Esoteric Exegesis and the Occult Ontology of Language 59:22

11M ago59:22

59:22

We enter the interconnected webwork of a reality where signs are things, things are signs, and everything means everything, but appropriately. Come for the visionary semiotics, stay for the occult sigils.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Sørina Higgins on Modernist Drama and Ceremonial Magic 1:03:53

11M ago1:03:53

1:03:53

We discuss the Occult in Modernist drama with Sørina Higgins. Yeats, Waite, Williams, Crowley, and a cast of supporting characters appear on the stage. The line between ceremonial magic and dramatic performance gets a thorough rinsing.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
The Esoteric Proclus, Part I: The Life and Thought of an Esoteric Sage 1:14:47

11M ago1:14:47

1:14:47

We look further into Proclus' esoteric doings, as a sage whose privileged status is marked by inspirations and epiphanies, omens and miracles. We then attempt a (shamefully oversimplified) summary of some important aspects of his (meta)physics.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Peter Adamson on the Arabic Proclus 58:11

12M ago58:11

58:11

We discuss the translation, adaptation, and evolution of Proclus' Elements of Theology into and through the Arabic and Latin thought-worlds with Peter Adamson. Come for the monotheist Proclus who is Aristotle, stay for the digression on Plethon.Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Introducing...Oceans: Life Under Water 11:26

12M ago11:26

11:26

Now that The Secret History of Antarctica: Death on the Ice has come to an end, here's a clip from another podcast we think you'll like. It's called Oceans: Life Under Water, an immersive storytelling podcast about the oceans from Crowd Network and Greenpeace, hosted by wildlife filmmaker and broadcaster Hannah Stitfall. To listen to the rest of th…

1
Antarctica | Ep 6 | Theories 42:48

12M ago42:48

42:48

In the final episode, Rodney’s friends and colleagues give their theories about what really happened. Suicide, accident, or foul play? And 24 years on, Stephen demands answers from the authorities to his own questions about the investigation. Episodes released for free every Monday. You can listen to the whole series ad-free straight away by subscr…

1
Dylan Burns on Proclus the Successor 52:14

12M ago52:14

52:14

We welcome Dylan Burns back to the podcast to discuss the life, works, and philosophy of Proclus the Successor. ‘All in all, but appropriately to each’Door Earl Fontainelle

1
Antarctica | Ep 5 | The Coroner's Verdict 34:35

1y ago34:35

34:35

The post-mortem is finished, and the cause of Rodney’s death sends shock waves through the tight-knit South Pole community. How? And will the New Zealand investigation uncover the truth? Episodes released for free every Monday. You can listen to the whole series ad-free straight away by subscribing to the Crowd Stories channel on Apple Podcasts. Li…

1
Antarctica | Ep 4 | Madhouse at the End of the Earth 32:24

1y ago32:24

32:24

Warning: this episode contains a story about sexual assault. This series began with investigation into the death of Rodney Marks, but it’s developed into something much broader. A bleak picture of how mysterious deaths, and crimes in general, are dealt with in Antarctica. In this episode, Stephen hears first-hand about a pervasive culture of harass…

1
Antarctica | Ep 3 | The Cop 33:48

1y ago33:48

33:48

Rodney Marks is dead. But what really happened? Enter two men determined to solve the mystery, a cop and a coroner from New Zealand. But who’s in charge when someone dies, in a land that belongs to no-one? Stephen digs into the complexities of Antarctic jurisdiction. Episodes released for free every Monday. You can listen to the whole series ad-fre…

1
Hierocles of Alexandria and the Pythagorean Golden Verses 43:54

1y ago43:54

43:54

We discuss Hierocles of Alexandria, student of Plutarch of Athens made good. He wrote an esoteric commentary on the poem known as the Golden Verses of the Pythagoreans. The poem is full of good advice and the Commentary tells us a lot about the nature and purification of the luminous subtle body.Door Earl Fontainelle

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