The Astrology Podcast

Celebrating the 500th episode of The Astrology Podcast, and reflecting on how the podcast got started and what I learned from doing the past 100 episodes! In the first part of this episode I talk a bit about how the podcast got started, I look at the founding charts for the podcast, and discuss the outline of what I said that I wanted to accomplish with the show in the very first episode back in 2012. I reflect on how ambitious my original outline for the podcast was, and that I've actually ended up accomplishing quite a bit of what I originally set out to do at this point. Later in the episode I reflect on some of the things I've learned in the process of doing the past 100 episodes in particular, especially over the past couple of years, mainly from a technical standpoint. Finally I conclude by thanking some people, and talking a bit about the future. Thanks for watching or listening to the podcast for the past 500 episodes! Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJbFI8xXxpU - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In this engaging discussion, guest Yukiko Tsuha, a professional astrologer, reflects on the transformative impact of Uranus's transit through her 10th house. She shares personal stories, including her mother's accident and her own health challenges, illustrating how these experiences prompted a significant career shift. Tsuha emphasizes the broader themes of change and self-discovery related to Uranus, urging listeners to connect their life experiences to astrological movements and anticipate what the upcoming transit in Gemini may hold.

Discover how the iconic film 'Back to the Future' faced tumultuous challenges during Mercury retrograde. The production saw delays and a shocking recasting of the lead role, originally against the comedic vision of the filmmakers. As filmmakers navigated these obstacles, they ultimately brought Michael J. Fox back and created a timeless classic. Dive into the astrological lessons learned from this cinematic journey and how personal experiences with Mercury retrograde connect with the stories we love.

In episode 497 astrologer Chris Brennan analyzes predictions made about Iran on The Astrology Podcast over the past year, and discusses what we can learn from those predictions in terms of mundane astrology. Starting with the eclipse season that happened last year in April 2024, I began seeing seeing astrological indications that implied a conflict with Iran would escalate over the course of the next year, and we ended up making a number of predictions to that effect in from mid-2024 to early 2025. After those predictions were fulfilled in June of 2025 when Israel and the United States launched a surprise attack on Iran, I went back and looked at the statements we made over the past year in order to see how we did, and ended up making a clip compilation from different episodes. During the course of this episode I present 10 clips from different episodes of The Astrology Podcast over the past year where we talked about Iran and made different predictions based on the astrological alignments we were seeing, and in between each clip I add some commentary in order to contextualize the clip and explain the different stages in our thinking. Putting together all of the clips and statements we made like this is really useful because you can see the evolution of our thinking, as we discovered new things and as new developments took place, and I think there are a number of useful lessons that can be learned from studying the things we got right as well as the areas where we could have done better. My hope is that astrologers can use this as a case study, and apply some of the lessons we learned from this to making other world astrology predictions in the future. Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8oGSA07-NY - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

The discussion centers around the intriguing transit of Uranus in Gemini and its historical correlation with major conflicts in U.S. history. Astrologers like Luke Broughton and Evangeline Adams utilized this transit to predict significant wars, including the Civil War and World War II. The conversation also connects these celestial events to America's Independence Day celebrations, revealing the explosive energy of Uranus. As the U.S. approaches its next Uranus return in 2025, the episode reflects on potential societal changes and future astrological influences.

In July 2025, Uranus makes a rare return to Gemini, heralding potential technological revolutions. Significant celestial events include the influential Saturn-Neptune conjunction and a Mercury retrograde in Leo that rekindles nostalgia. The hosts discuss the astrological implications of recent global events, especially surrounding geopolitical tensions. Meanwhile, they celebrate a decade of astrological forecasts, emphasizing the intertwining of cosmic movements with personal and societal changes. Listeners are encouraged to navigate the upcoming chaos with insight and introspection.

In episode 494 I share several Venus retrograde repetitions that have happened in the news recently, and summarize what I learned from closely tracking the Venus retrograde recently. Since Venus finally departed from Aries and completed the extended retrograde period earlier this month I wanted to do one final episode to wrap up some lingering 8-year repetition stories that I had found, and also to share some conclusions I drew from this research over the past 6 months. I needed to do this episode in order to bring this series to completion that I started back in January, and this is the third and final installment in the news series. Some repetitions I covered include: Star Wars, Nintendo, the Oscars/Conan, the Rose Garden, and Iran. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:07:31 Star Wars 00:16:01 Oscars & Conan 00:26:06 Nintendo 00:44:40 Rose Garden 00:47:41 Iran 01:00:49 Miscellaneous Stories 01:18:58 What I've Learned 01:55:37 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luI_GV5Ga9I – Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 494 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 493 I interview some patrons and students talk about how the recent Venus and Mars retrograde periods went for them, and to demonstrate a principle I discovered about how retrogrades can describe the unfolding of a sequence of events over an extended period of time. One of my unique perspectives on Venus and Mars retrogrades is that they are not just the period when the planet is moving backwards, but instead represent an extended stay in one or two signs of the zodiac. This long transit often coincides with the unfolding of a sequence of events over several months, frequently centered on the topics of the whole sign houses the retrograde occupies. Now that the extended retrograde period ranges have been completed this month, with Venus finally departing from its retrograde sign of Aries and Mars departing from its retrograde sign of Leo, I wanted to document and demonstrate this principle by sharing some real-life stories. I'm joined by several students from my courses and patrons of the podcast who share their experiences of how these transits played out in their lives. In particular we explore three specific ways that I have identified about how retrogrades can manifest: Retrogrades that represent the unfolding of a sequence of events that play out over an extended period of time. Retrogrades that cross a sign boundary and connect two sets of topics across the whole sign houses involved. When Venus and Mars are retrograde in different signs and the topics of both houses they are in become relevant.   Through these discussions, we see clear examples of how these extended retrograde periods timed significant life stories, from relationship changes and career shifts to health matters and dealing with family. This episode serves as a final case study to substantiate the theoretical framework I outlined in previous forecasts, providing concrete examples to help astrologers learn how to apply this concept to future retrogrades. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction & premise 00:09:36 Three retrograde types 00:19:04 Kitt 00:38:34 Abby 00:49:53 Baykan 01:00:51 Emily 01:16:31 Summer 01:32:15 Christine 02:03:08 Dinah-Maria 02:24:55 Erin 02:26:31 Denese 02:48:15 Concluding remarks 03:02:13 Credits Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CS4YLeg4xc - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 493 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 492 Professor A. Tunç Şen joins the podcast to discuss his book, Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450-1600, which is on astrologers working in the Ottoman court in the 15th and 16th centuries. The conversation offers a detailed picture of the lives and social dynamics of astrologers who operated at the highest levels of power in the Ottoman court. A significant focus is the establishment of a formal unit for court astrologers, or munajjim, within the Ottoman bureaucracy, which paralleled other expert fields like physicians and architects. This unit, which could consist of one to six astrologers, was created in the 15th century and remarkably lasted until the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire in the early 20th century. The episode delves into the various duties performed by these court astrologers. A primary function was the practice of electional astrology, where they would determine auspicious moments for a wide range of state affairs, including military campaigns, the founding of mosques, and wedding ceremonies. The astrologers would also issue an annual almanac, interpret the birth charts of rulers, answer horary astrology questions, and sometimes give medical advice. The conversation also explores the personalities and internal dynamics within the court. Much attention is given to Sultan Bayezid II, a ruler with a deep personal interest in the astral sciences who was instrumental in the institutionalization of the court astrologers. The story of the astrologer Riyazi is also highlighted—a highly skilled but frustrated practitioner who was never appointed chief astrologer and expressed his professional frustrations in poetry. This illustrates the debates, disagreements, and competition for authority that existed among the astrologers themselves, as well as other practitioners of esoteric or occult sciences. The discussion challenges the narrative that astrology was in a state of decline after an earlier "golden age," demonstrating that it remained a vibrant and impactful field. Tunç's book was just released on May 20, and you can order it on Amazon or other online retailers now: Forgotten Experts: Astrologers, Science, and Authority in the Ottoman Empire, 1450–1600 This episode is available in both audio and video versions below. Watch the Video Version of This Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvZiDOnFIf0 - Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3:

In episode 491 astrologers Chris Brennan and Leisa Schaim look at the astrological forecast for June of 2025! We spend the first hour of the episode talking about the astrology of news and events that have occurred since our last forecast, and then in the second hour we transition into talking about the astrology of June, starting at 1 hour and 3 minutes into the episode. June opens with Venus and Mars wrapping up their extended retrograde periods by moving into new signs finally, with Venus moving into her home sign of Taurus and Mars moving into Virgo. A major shift this month is Jupiter moving into Cancer, which is the traditional sign of its exaltation, where it will stay for the next year. There are some tense alignments in the middle of the month, with an explosive Mars-Uranus square around June 15, and restrictive Jupiter-Saturn square going exact on the same day. By the end of the month Saturn has moved within 1 degree of a conjunction with Neptune, making that alignment peak in intensity, blurring the lines between what is real and what is not. Timestamps 00:00:00 Introduction 00:01:04 Quick overview of June 00:03:47 News segment 01:03:49 June forecast 02:31:55 Electional date for June 02:38:00 Wrapping up 02:42:03 Credits Patreon for Early Access & Bonus Content Patreon.com/AstrologyPodcast Leisa's Website LeisaSchaim.com Watch the Video Version of This Episode Watch the video version of our astrology forecast for June on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDMTDGvDjuI - Transcript A full transcript of this episode is available: Episode 491 transcript Listen to the Audio Version of This Episode Listen to the audio version of this episode or download it as an MP3: