Podcast episodes – The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast (SHWEP)

223 episodes

The Struggle for Esoteric Authority in Early Islām: The Shī‘a and the Ghulāt
09/10/2026 | 1h 16 mins.
We explore some of the weird territory where extreme politics meet extreme theology in the pre-Umayyad and Umayyad periods. Includes case-studies of a representative selection of early shiite "extremists".
Prolegomena to the Development of the Shī‘a and of Shī‘ī Esotericisms in the Eighth Century and Beyond
24/09/2026 | 48 mins.
We discuss the Iraqi context of the early shī‘ī movements, explore some of the political, esoteric, and politicesoteric concerns of the early partisans of the ahl al-bayt, and then give a basic run-down of some of the most important shiite movements and their imams.
Islām and Esotericism in the Eighth Century: The Umayyad Era and the Question of Islām as ‘Religion’
17/09/2026 | 1h 1 mins.
We discuss politico-religious developments among the Believers in the eighth century, setting the stage for a series of episodes exploring developments in esoteric Islām in the Umayyad period. We also discuss our evidence for how the Believers' movement became ‘Islām’ in the first place, also seemingly an Umayyad phenomenon.
Into the Archives with Alicia Walker
13/09/2026 | 1h 1 mins.
In this interview, Part II of our discussion of quotidian magical practices in the East-Roman world with Alicia Walker, we explore a wealth of materia magica, which is a fancy way of saying "magical things". Come for the alchemical enamel-ware, stay for the multipurpose magic ring.
Alicia Walker on Everyday Magical Culture in East Rome
25/08/2026 | 37 mins.
In the previous episode we looked at learned, elaborate, elite magical practices and the books that enabled them in East Rome. In this episode we discuss the magical practices and objects with which normal, non-specialist Romans navigated their mediæval world. Alicia Walker is our guide in the territory where the esoteric becomes everyday.