In this episode I explain what a situationship is and why it’s a horrible thing for anyone to find themselves in, but particularly awful for women. Just say no! We’ve all been there and we don’t have to stay there!
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By popular demand, in this episode I explain what a pick me woman (or “pickmeisha”) is. I give some examples of how pick me women act and think, as well as some of the extreme dark manifestations of this mindset and energy. I would argue that most women go through a phase like this as teens and young adults, and it’s part of stepping into womanhood to choose self worth, self love, and strong boundaries instead.
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I hate to be that person who is like, “but LOGIC!” I feel like I sound like a 13 year old boy who just took his first philosophy class, lol. But alas, I am someone who is finishing up my PhD in Philosophy of Science, and who found myself shifting over the years from politically far left to being more conservative and on the right. I noticed a left steeped in identitarianism and tribalism, who mobilize emotions like shame, embarrassment, and fear: fear of being wrong, fear of being called this or that, fear of being contaminated by perspectives that are framed as evil or bad, just because the left says it is. In this episode I share my experience of attending last night’s Munk Debate on the Crisis of Liberalism, held at Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto. I talk about my impression of the speakers, what they had to say, their rhetorical style, as well as who “won” the debate by swaying more people in the vote, as well as my troubled reflections and observations on why I think they won, and how the winning rhetorical style is, unfortunately, becoming more and more common. A reflective and political discussion.
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My friends, I know. I’ve done it too. Put off important things, adulting things, or things I actually really love and want to do but… don’t. Whether it’s in learning tarot, dealing with finances and taxes, cleaning out the cat litter, or writing our next book, it’s easy to just say “I’ll do it later.” In this episode I talk about why we should do the thing, and I share some common protestations of why folks deprioritize tarot learning (and even brainwash themselves they will never learn it properly anyway).
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Join me as I listen to the waves and talk about how little actions can reignite our creativity - and how mindless, pointless creation can be transformative and freeing.
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In this episode, I discuss the current culture of fear around fully expressing ourselves. We are not in an expressive, heart open, anything goes, experimental and experiential culture - we’re in a moment where there are good opinions and bad opinions, moral identities and immoral identities. Nuance has all but disappeared, and anyone who dare be a little more complicated in their thought can look forward to being publicly shamed. In this episode I discuss why honesty is too important to abandon, and how when we halt our speech and expression, we block ourselves mentally, emotionally, and can even cause physical health issues.
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Hi friends! In today’s episode of the Secrets of a Witch podcast, I talk about the importance of reading books we are a little wary of reading, whether that’s because they’re banned, or because we may think or be afraid that the content is heretical or offensive. I’ve observed so much fear in the past few days around certain ideas, and the idea that being around or in contact with certain books/ideas is contagious in a bad way, infecting the ideologically “pure.” I think it’s important for all of us to explore, experiment, expand our minds, and challenge ourselves to experience a diversity of perspectives. Only then are we really able to figure out what we ourselves actually think! Listen to this episode to learn my perspective on all this, and I share a few recommendations to get started on what is currently “heretical.”
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In this episode I riff off of a nasty review of this podcast, where someone basically said I sound like a dumbass due to my “valley girl accent.” Topics of discussion include: code switching; voice, class, and regionality; the performance of intelligence and how that intersects with respectability politics; and of course, I discuss my first book Witchbody and why it was (and still is) so important for me to make academic ideas accessible to every day people.
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In this episode, I share a bit about how and why I am extremely over the age of identity politics. Over the last decade, the focus on identity has shifted from inclusive and positive, to nasty, essentialist, and exclusionary, with an emphasis on rewarding victim mentalities and with identity being a fast-track to being right, and also as a replacement for any actual argument. I talk a bit about what I’m interested in right now instead of identity: character and values.
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Hi friends! In this episode of the Secrets of a Witch podcast, I discuss some of my initial thoughts about the Barbie movie (I know, I’m also shocked I watched it)! A lot of analyses have been circulating but in my own commentary I focus on the widespread scapegoating and hatred of beauty, and symbols of beauty, whether they be dolls or real life human beings. I also discuss triggers, and how strange it is that people will deal with their own triggers or insecurities by hating a doll or by hating women they are threatened by or would like to be. I discuss a few other elements of the film as well. I hope you’ll listen, and that what I say will be at least somewhat thought provoking!
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Like attracts like. Vibes attract vibes. Y’all may totally hate this with every ounce of your being, but it’s absolutely true - our energies, our openness, our playfulness and ability to be present and positive as we go about our daily business, go to parties and networking events, and even grab groceries… all of that influences the type of life we have, and the kind of interactions we have and the people we meet. In this episode I explain a bit about this, the importance of opening our vibe, and how when we flirt with the world and universe, the universe and the world often flirt right back. This episode includes a fun little homework about this, for Tuesday’s upcoming gorgeous full moon.
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Hi friends! In this episode I talk about radical honesty, prolonged adolescence, personal growth, and how when we are in our integrity and honest with ourselves and others about who we are and what we want… a lot will fall away. As it should! That’s okay and it’s awesome. In this episode, I explain why.
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Hello friends! In this episode I discuss negative mindset, complaining about stupid shit, and explain why and how a negative outlook and interpretive lens is ultimately linked to an external locus of control. If your locus of control stays external, you’ll likely suffer unnecessarily until you are able to heal and reorient. In this episode I give examples about all this, and how I recommend we orient and heal instead.
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Guess what! It’s election day in my home city of Toronto: Yes, we are electing a new mayor. In this episode I talk a bit about my own political journey over the last 10 years, how I turned from a leftist social justice warrior to a normal (Canadian) conservative, and why I think it’s important to read multiple books by people you assume you’re going to disagree with. Today’s North American political climate is very bizarre, full of thought police and cancel culture, and in this episode I outline what I hope we can all be and do for ourselves and each other instead: to move from curiosity and openness, and to be responsive to the current situation and present moment. Your politics may not be what you think they are, but you will never know that if you don’t give yourself permission to explore.
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Hi all! First of all, HAPPY SUMMER SOLSTICE! After some chat about how to honour this magical moment, I discuss dating dynamics among men and women today, and remind women of the importance of keeping our standards high - respecting our own dreams for our lives and not allowing anyone to bully us out of our desires, no matter how cute they are.
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Everyone hates ghosting, it seems - well, except for me! In this episode I talk about abundance mindset, the importance of cultivating an internal locus of control, a widespread misplaced obsession with closure, and why I don’t think ghosting is that big of a deal, especially in the early days. Controversial, I know!
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In this episode, I share a really confusing miscommunication blunder I experienced this week - fascinating! I talk about the importance of clear and direct communication, and how limiting beliefs are often a big contributor to miscommunication and misunderstanding. Everyone wins when we learn to challenge our limiting worldviews, communicate our truth, and take people at their word. In this episode I share a bit about how these things are connected.
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Okay, rant ahead! Consider this your warning! It hit me today that I’ve been teaching Magic Without Bullshit for 4 years, and I’ve heard the same excuse the entire 4 years - “I’ll do it next time.” Well, guess what? There may not be a next time. In this episode, I explain how this “later” attitude comes from a place of entitlement, complacency, and also taking creators for granted. I also relate this to how people take the clean environment for granted - while today Toronto has the third worst air quality in the world, and I wore a N95 outside to go get a coffee. My eyes stung like hell. When we expect things to always be around for next time - whether it’s the environment, our spouse, or a small business… we reveal some of our own mental weaknesses, and shoot our selves in the foot. We also are deluding ourselves - if we keep telling ourselves, “I’ll do it next year,” and it’s been 4 years. Step out of the delusion, and admit you really don’t care. Or maybe you do. If the time is now, email me - I’ll see you inside.
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Okay so this episode is a little bit of a rant… stick with me though. Over the last few years, witchy and spiritual spaces have been inundated with the rhetoric of the oppression olympics, a narcissistic over-fixation on identity, and an obsession with personal injury. In this episode I talk a bit about some of the conversations I’ve observed lately, particularly a knee jerk response to (and rejection of) “low vibe” and “high vibe” rhetoric. I give a contrary perspective, which is that we can accept ourselves no matter where we are on our journey. Shame is optional, and so is the rejection of happy and helpful concepts. A deep episode, lol!
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In an era where identity seems to usurp everything… should women always support other women? Should people of the same identity always big each other up without thought? In this episode I look at both sides of this debate and offer my thoughts on how to exist amidst today’s tensions between identity and character.
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