End of the Road Podcast (Immanence = Transcendence)

Michael Kokal
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Dec 29, 2025 • 1h 8min

Episode 330: Charles Shaw/2025/Connecting to Time and Place

Charles Shaw is an author, documentary filmmaker, journalist, activist and psychedelic therapist who saw his focus change in 2025 to trauma informed care/peer support as a public mental health professional on the front lines of Chicago. His previous works are highlighted by Exile Nation (2012); Release Us(2013); Soldiers of the Vine(2017) and The Shadow People, which was highlighted in episode 246. More info at: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673950/exile-nation-by-charles-shaw/ https://www.instagram.com/charlesbshaw/ This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-330-charles-shaw2025connecting-to-time-and-place Many blessings to you and yours in 2026.
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Dec 19, 2025 • 56min

Episode 329: Banafsheh Sayyad: Sufism/Mysticism/Divine Feminine Embodiment/"Dance of Oneness"

Banafsheh Sayyad is a master sacred dancer and visionary spiritual embodiment teacher whose forthcoming book, Dance of Oneness (Sounds True, March 2026), offers a revolutionary invitation to embody love through conscious movement. Drawing from her signature Dance of Oneness modality, a Divine Feminine lineage that fuses Taoist wisdom and the mystical traditions with flamenco, Tai Chi, Persian dance, and Sufi whirling, Banafsheh guides readers to awaken their light body, dissolve constriction, and rediscovery vitality and purpose. Dance of Oneness traces Banafsheh's own awakening, from her exile in Iran to her emergence as a world-renown artist and teacher and invites readers to live as channels of love and light, healing both self and planet. Hailed by the Los Angeles Times as a "mesmerizing foray into the body as a trance mechanism," her work has inspired thousands worldwide at centers such as Esalen, Kripalu, Omega, and Hollyhock, and through her acclaimed non-profit company, NAMAH, and her film "In the Fire of Grace", co-created with Andrew Harvey. For more information and to connect with Banafsheh, please see: https://danceofoneness.org/ This podcast is availabe on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-329-banafsheh-sayyad-sufismmysticismdivine-feminine-embodimentdance-of-oneness Have a blessed weekend:-)
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Nov 26, 2025 • 1h 10min

Episode 328: Oli Genn-Bash: Animism/The Fungi Consultant/Codex Serafini

Founder of the Fungi Consultant, Oli Genn-Bash is a mycotherapy educator, psychedelic writer and musician exploring the intersections between functional mushrooms, animism, altered states, and human well-being. Though courses, consultancy, and creative work, Oli blends scientific research with traditional wisdom to make mushroom based healing accessible and grounded. He is the creator of Mycomastery: The Functional Mushroom Buyer's Toolkit and is the "Saturnian" saxman of the band Codex Serafini. Check out his many offerings at: https://thefungiconsultant.com/ @oligennbash @codexserafini_band Musical tracks in the podcast are from Codex Serafini's new album "Mother, Give Your Children Sanity." This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-328-oli-genn-bash-animismthe-fungi-consultantcodex-serafini Have a blessed weekend!
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Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 3min

Episode 327: Davezilla: "Magical AI Grimoire: A Book of Shadows for Contemporary Chaos"

Davezilla is an illustrator, artist, and author. His work bridges the mystical and the modern, always with an eye toward what's real, what works, and what just might be trying to get your attention from the other side. In his "Spare" time, he was executive vice-president of Campbell Ewald (2nd oldest ad agency in the US). He is also a Gardnerian witch (initiated 1979), Discordian, Ngangalero (initiated 1993), and Santero (initiated 2006). In this podcast, we focus on his new book Magical AI Grimoire which Peter Carroll writes is a "step-by-step" guide to using artificial intelligence ...for almost any conceivable magical purpose and expressed in any desired literary or artistic style imaginable." Dave is also the creator of the Tarot of the Unexplained and host of the Spirit in the Frame podcast. Check him out at: https://hexsupport.club or https://davezilla.com/ or wherever you find @davezilla. This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-327-davezilla-magical-ai-grimoire-a-book-of-shadows-for-contemporary-chaos Have a blessed weekend!
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Oct 29, 2025 • 57min

Episode 326: Dr. Aaron Breidenbach: Quantum Computing/Crystals/Animism/Atacama

Dr. Aaron Breidenbach recently completed his PhD dissertation in Physics at Stanford. His doctorial studies focused on the growth and magnetic measurement of the crystals Herbertsmithite and Zn-Barlowite. His work went a long way towards proving that these crystals are "quantum spin liquids," a novel state of magnetic matter that has potential applications in quantum computing. These same crystals also grow naturally in the Atacama desert, where the local Atacamenian people hold rich animistic traditions which weave in their mountains and mummified ancestors through spiritual traditions. Sadly, these living mountains are currently being over-mined for Copper and Lithium. This process has led to many ecological issues, including the poisoning of the Atacamenian groundwater with arsenic. The cruelest irony is that Herbertsmithite, a strong candidate to the the silicon of quantum computing, is regularly found in toxic waste tailings from these mines. Aaron now is embarking on a journey to the Atacama to try to help restore these animistic traditions, bring balance to the land, and help advance the future of quantum computing. For more information about Aaron, please see: https://thequantumshaman.wordpress.com/ This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-326-dr-aaron-breidenbach-quantum-computingcrystalsanimismatacama Have a blessed week!
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Oct 15, 2025 • 1h 9min

Episode 325: Gary Lachman: "Touched by the Presence: From Blondie's Bowery to Magic and the Occult"

Gary Lachman is an author and lecturer on consciousness, counterculture, and the Western esoteric tradition. His works include Dark Star Rising, Beyond the Robot, and The Secret Teachers of the Western World. A founding member of the rock band "Blondie", he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. This podcast focuses on his new work, Touched by the Presence: From Blondie's Bowery and Rock and Roll to Magic and the Occult (Inner Traditions Nov. 2025) which unveils Gary's life in letters, mysticism, and of course, rock and roll. More information about Gary, his 25 other books, and other writings can be found at: https://www.gary-lachman.com/post/touched-by-the-presence-in-2025. This podcast is available on your favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-325-gary-lachman-touched-by-presence-from-blondies-bowery-to-magic-and-the-occult Have a blessed week!
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Oct 1, 2025 • 60min

Episode 324: Richard Kaczynski, PhD: "Mind over Magick: The Psychology of Ritual Magick"

Richard Kaczynski, PhD, is an author and lecturer in the fields of social psychology, metaphysical beliefs, and new religious movements. This podcast will focus on his new work Mind over Magick: The Psychology of Ritual Magick (October 2025) which explores the many fascinating connections between the practices of ritual magicians (and seekers) of all traditions with the findings of peer-reviewed research in psychology, neuroscience, and real time brain imaging. Richard is also known for his biography of occultist Aleister Crowley, Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley, described by the Times Literary Supplement as "the major biography to date." Richard's presentation of Crowley's The Sword of Song was featured in episode 317. In other wide ranging academic pursuits, Richard has held positions as assistant professor at Wayne State School of Medicine, research associate and affiliate at Yale Universities' Department of Psychiatry and adjunct faculty at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry. He has published dozens of articles in academic peer reviewed journals in areas ranging from national program evaluation of comprehensive work therapy, and multi-site clinical trials of treatment effiacy for bipolar disorder (STEP-BP), schizophenia (CATIE) and Alzheimer's (CATIE) To connect with Richard and his many offerings, please see: https://richard-kaczynski.com/ or follow him on your favorite social media. This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-324-richard-kaczynski-phd-mind-over-magick-the-psychology-of-ritual-magick Have a blessed week!
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Sep 27, 2025 • 1h 7min

Special Re-Release: Celebrating the Life/Activism/Mischief of Tamra Lucid

In honor of the passing of Tamra Lucid, we release her podcast which originally aired in 2021. Enjoy this wonderful soul:-) "Tamra Lucid is a founding member of the experimental rock band Lucid Nation. She was a writer and editor for Newtopia Magazine and the principal interviewer for the original Reality Sandwich. She has produced documentary films including: Exile Nation: The Plastic People, End of the Line: The Women of Standing Rock, and the award winning Cuba Libre: Rap is War. She lived in Los Angeles with her husband, the musician and writer Ronnie Pontiac." In the 2021 episode, we focused on her book Making the Ordinary Extraordinary: My Seven Years in Occult Los Angeles with Manley Palmer Hall, which Mitch Horowitz called "A compelling written portrait of a life of one of the most significant occult voices of the last century." The book remains available on all online sellers but we would recommend her publisher Inner Traditions: https://www.innertraditions.com/author/tamra-lucid Note: the song "Kindred" by Lucid Nation plays near the end of this podcast. This re-release is available on your favorite on-line platform, or here:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/special-re-release-celebrating-the-lifeactivismmischief-of-tamra-lucid Have a blessed weekend. Life is short.
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Sep 11, 2025 • 56min

Episode 323: Carrie Asby: Rituals/Retreats/Ecotherapy

Carrie Asby is an author, retreat founder, wellness instructor, and yogini who is trailblazing the world of ecotherapy and holistic healing. She is the author of Your Morning Ritual: Mindful Habits for Peace and Resilience (2025) a guide that offers readers practical tools and gentle guidance to create daily practices that foster peace, resilience, and a deeper sense of wellbeing. Carrie is also the Founder and Guide of Nature Heart Retreats and has volunteered at Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. She is the founder of Yoga in the Park in Portland, Oregon and Central Park, NY, a practice that brings people together to connect, move, and build community in the heart of nature. To connect with Carrie and experience the full breadth of her offerings, please see: https://carrieasby.com/ or follow her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/carrieasby This podcast is available on you favorite podcast platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-323-carrie-asby-ritualsretreatsecotherapy Have a blessed weekend!
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Aug 25, 2025 • 1h 14min

Episode 322: Emrys Abner: "Solomonic Pentacles: Wisdom and Magic for the Modern Age"

Emrys Abner has spent his life chasing the divine through history, theology, music and art. This podcast will focus on his most recent book: Solomonic Pentacles: Wisdom and Magic for the Modern Age (Llewellyn Books 2025). When he is not performing as a professional musician and raising a family, he runs a sacred workshop business called the "Acoustic Alchemist" and cohosts the Random Illusions podcast. He is also the founder of the Fellowship for Spiritual Advancement nonprofit organization. To connect with all his magical projects, please see: https://linktr.ee/acousticalchemist At the end of the podcast we play Emrys' musical piece "Almost through the Dark". If you like what you hear, his musical offerings can be found at: https://cheesebrowmusic.com/ This podcast is available on your favorite platform, or here: https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/episode-322-emrys-abner-solomonic-pentacles-wisdom-and-magic-for-the-modern-age Have a blessed week! P.S. The Cover Art on this podcast is part of Emrys' workshop at the acousticalchemist, link above.

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