The Skeptical Shaman

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the illustrious Miguel Conner: host of the *very* popular Aeon Byte Gnostic Radio AND Gen Wasteland podcasts. He is the author of many books, including Voices of Gnosticism, Stargazer, Heretic, and The Executioner’s Daughter.  In this episode, Rachel and Miguel discuss his latest book, The Occult Elv...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Vanessa Reiser: licensed clinical social worker, narcissistic abuse survivor and author of the incredible new book Narcissistic Abuse: A Therapist’s Guide to Identifying, Escaping, and Healing from Toxic and Manipulative People. Vanessa is the human embodiment of the phrase: "New...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the lovely Mark Phillips of The Mind's Aye: medium, psychic, and avid student of all things Woo!  Not only does Mark have a beautiful Scottish brogue-- and the arcane abilities of mediumship and psychic communication-- but he has also been attending incredible classes and workshops at the real l...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with the incredible Cyndera Quackenbush of Story Through Stone Substack and the Archetypal Tarot podcast about the magic, wonder and spiritual power of stones. Cyndera is also the creator of the Story Through Stone Reflection Cards-- a new, 54-card deck featuring photographs of rare, billion year-old ston...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings), chats with Audrey Moore (of Audrey Ayurveda) all about how to leverage Ayurveda in this turbulent Wood Snake Year. While Audrey's client-facing Ayurvedic practice is relatively new-- as is her auspiciously timed snake-themed branding-- her knowledge of all things herbal, nutritional, and natural is anythin...

In this week's episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) digs deep with The Skeptic Metaphysicians, exploring their shared love of all things Woo AND skeptical! Like Scully and Mulder from the X-Files, The Skeptic Metaphysicians Will Rodriguez and Karen Endsley are caught between two worlds—the allure of life's mystical mysteries and the grounding for...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with a mysterious, underground figure whose nom de guerre shall henceforth be "Sam the Sky Guy." Why all of this cloak and dagger around a simple podcast guest's identity? Well, simply put, Sam has a real deal "big boy job" that would NOT appreciate his wading into the Woo in the b...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Nicholas Pearson, crystal and plant medicine expert and author of Crystals for Psychic Self-Defense: 145 Gemstones for Banishing, Binding, and Magickal Protection; Crystal Basics Pocket Encyclopedia: The Energetic, Healing, and Spiritual Power of 450 Gemstones; Flower Essences from the Witch's Ga...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with previous guest and friend of the show, Natalie Fehlner of Sidhe AND the *new* podcast: Tales from the Truth Seekers. In this episode, Natalie shares her journey from spiritual awakening (see previous episode for more details on her awesome experience) to spiritual confusion to disillusionment to her r...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the *very* handsome and dynamic host of the Lit Up Lightworker podcast, George Lizos all about the world of Greek Mysticism-- and the Greek Gods, their myths, and their alignment with astrology, ritual magic, and much, much more! George is the author of the new book Secrets of Greek Mysticism: A Moder...

In this special Valentine's Day week episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Katie May: host of the Love Wild Podcast, founder of Embrace Yourself Whole Coaching, and creator of The Sacred Year Project and Sacred Mother Sanctuary. The upshot of their chat? Self-love and re-wilding are crucial ingredients to a happy, whole life-- never mind a l...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the inspirational Dan Reeves of the Spiritual Underground podcast all about addiction recovery, healing, and....drumroll please...emotional sobriety! Dan shares his incredible story of overcoming addiction and transforming his life, as well as what drives him to continue to talk to addicts and non-add...

The Lunar New Year-- and Year of the Wood Snake-- is officially upon us in 2025, and with it a focus on intentions, resolutions, and manifestation efforts. But, in a veritable grifter soup of interchangeable manifestation coaches, influencers and life coaches, how can you separate fact from fiction? Sara Rae (of the Spiritually Inspired podcast) joins host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) for a di...

In this special episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats all things Hellier with friend of the show Angela Gore. Some of you might remember Ms. Gore from a previous episode of this very podcast-- titled "Keep the Dead Close"-- digging (pun intended) into the world of archeology, anthropology, and ancestral connection. In this episode, we deep d...

Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it. What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon&...

Well, well, well. This is a big one, ladies and gentlemen. So big, in fact, that we needed TWO episodes just to cover it. What what, exactly? Well, in this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down for a fireside chat with famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite Allen Greenfield-- recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon&...

Welcome back fellow spiritually-homeless, skeptical seekers! You're in for a treat. Why? Well, the Skeptical Shaman podcast is kicking off 2025 with a real bang: no more walking on eggshells, clenching our jaws, or tip-toeing through the metaphorical tulips of cognitive dissonance, coercive control, or mass formation psychosis! Said another way? "Behold the field in which we grow our f*c...

In this seventh episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with guest Brittney Barney all about her recent experience with none other than Jesus Christ! I know, I know. The name "Jesus" is SUCH a trigger across religious AND New Age circles, making him a hard figure to chat about as a spirit guide. So, JESUS BLESS Britt for her bravery, curiosity a...

In this sixth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) sits down with friend and client Mary Blanchard to chat all things Archangel Michael. Is Mary a professional psychic? No. Does she do angel readings with her Doreen Virtue deck? No. Is she selling some angel merch, like bless'd fanny packs or anointed oils? Certainly not. Mary is just a normal, high-fun...

In this fifth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Laura Oxendine breaks down what it's like to get a bear hug from the great "beyond"-- courtesy of Bear as a TOTEM Animal!  This one's a bit softer and warmer and, well, Teddy Bear-adjacent. Well, except for the scenes of fiery vengeance and Lord of the Rings-level violence. Which, for the record, was totally justif...

In this fourth episode of our Supernatural Stories series, guest Christine McLaughlin shares her incredible experience with Oscar Wilde's ghost. Yah. Read that last bit again. Wild, isn't it? Not only was Oscar Wilde an iconoclastic, singular literary talent, but apparently he's a large orb hanging out in Canada, too! Christine shares her experience with bringing this famous author...

In this third episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Natalie Fehlner (of Sidhe) all about her real deal, actual, lived experience GHOST STORY. Spooky stuff, guys. But also, very funny and very cool! This story starts with a totally innocent musical theater production, which seemed to stimulate a spirit to commit great...

In this second episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client and friend Hannah Schwartz all about her recent connection with the ancient Norse God Odin-- aka "Mr. Wednesday". Hannah first encountered Odin as a person-sized raven watching over a flock of chickens in a dream, not immediately understanding just "who" th...

In this first episode in our special Supernatural Stories series, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client KC Gale all about her now *infamous* visit from a Mayan Death Bat! Despite what spooky or downright terrifying images the phrase "Mayan Death Bat" might initially conjure, KC is here to flip the script-- and explain how this unusual Spirit Guide is actually a spiritua...

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Voodoo practitioner, author and business owner Sallie Ann Glassman all about the realm of spirits, otherwise known in Voodoo as "loa". Sallie has been practicing Vodoo in New Orleans since 1976 and is the owner of the Island of Salvation Botanica, a store and gallery specializing in Vodoun r...