Dark Habits

In their first instalment focusing on dark goddesses, Megan tells Shannon all about Greek goddess of the underworld, thresholds and crossroads: Hekate. In this episode, Megan discusses encountering the sacred feminine from a non-binary perspective, the problematic language behind coining oneself a "critical thinking witch", POLECATS, and how Hekate is the perfect deity to summon during a...

Shannon shares the story of her near death experience in her early teen years, which led to her career trajectory as a CNA (certified nursing assistant) that has put her in the position "hovering over the edges of death" as a hospice caregiver. ...and also: we heart Australians who are the best podcast fans ...and also: send in weird, creepy stories to be read on the p'cast ...and al...

Megan and Ryen are back to serve more hot takes on the witchy, the woo and the weird. Just in time for Pride month, they meet up to discuss the life and times of Lou Sullivan: the transmasc trailblazer who fought for gay trans men to be able to access gender affirming care during a time when trans people were expected to perform cis het normativity in order to be given the treatment they were seek...

Megan tells Shannon all about the tarot card of 2026: The Wheel of Fortune. Learn how to make the most of this year's tarot card, and calculate what your very own tarot birth card is! Check out Dark Habits across the web! ⁠ website ⁠ ⁠ pixelfed ⁠ ⁠ mastodon ⁠ ⁠ instagram Sources: Chen, Aria. “Zodiac and Tarot: What Does ‘The Wheel Of Fortune’ Really Mean?” GTHC. 16.8.2025. Available at https:/...

I'm finally back with a new episode after a long pause due to some personal setbacks and dealing with grief. In this first episode of 2026, I am joined by best friend since high school, Shannon. Enjoy getting back into the swing of things with our shared enthusiasm for witchin' weirdin' and wooin'. Check out Dark Habits across the web! website pixelfed mastodon instagram

While Dark Habits' notable-queer-people-with-star-signs is rather behind, this episode comes just in time for Spooky Season! Megan is once again joined by Thomas from their other podcast about queer history, These Old Queers, to talk about lesbian literary pioneer, paranormal investigator and (disappointingly) fascist sympathizer - Radclyffe Hall. Sources: Matsuo, Alex. Women of the Paranormal...

Megan is joined by Thomas from their other podcast about queer history, These Old Queers, to talk about the life and times of queer Panamanian boxer, Panama Al Brown. Sources: Corpus, Jose. Black Ink. Iowa City, Iowa. Win By Ko Publications. 1 August 2016. El Tecolote Staff. “Black, Gay and Undocumented: The story of boxing’s first Latino Champion.” El Tecolote. 11 March 2021. https://eltecolote.o...

In the latest episode of talking-about-queer-people-with-sun-signs, Megan and Ryen talk about pioneering Black lesbian feminist, Margaret Sloan-Hunter, as well as intersectionality, the personal as the political, and the stark contrast between the information we have about queer male lives versus those of the lives of queer women. ...there is also talk of Dyke Tights...but you're going to have...

In the final episode of our 3 part series on pioneering sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, we delve into his life and times leading up to the decision to leave Germany for what would become an extended global lecture tour as his country and Berlin - the city he loved - falls into the clutches of totalitarianism and Nazi takeover. CW: this episode mentions things some listeners might find upsetting. Ple...

In the second part of our 3 part episode on groundbreaking pioneer sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld, we talk about his influence on German gender identity and sexual politics up through World War One and his instrumental influence on Weimar Era culture! Cabaret Clothes! Divine Decadence! Gender Euphoria! Hurrah! CW: this episode mentions things some listeners might find upsetting. Please take care whi...

In our latest episode, Ryen and Megan talk about queer rights pioneer - Magnus Hirschfeld and his ground-breaking research and advocacy. In this first of three parts, we learn about Magnus's beginnings, his studies, travels and his beginnings as Germany's foremost sexologist in pre-Weimar Germany. CW: contains mention of suicide, sexual assault, sexual abuse, and fascism - please take care...

Back with more stories of queer ancestors, in this episode Ryen and Megan talk about Aries sun sign feminist, science fiction author, teacher and political activist Sally Miller Gearhart! Sources: www.sallymillergearhart.net https://sallymillergearhart.net/in-memoriam/ https://medium.com/@andrewszanton/sally-miller-gearhart-eco-feminist-science-fiction-writer-393ed931936c https://afterellen.com/th...

Megan and Ryen get together to talk about the Tarot Card of 2025: The Hermit. Tune in to learn how to make the most out of this year as the Hermit guides us along our path. Sources: Esselmont, Brigit. “Biddy Tarot.” Biddy Tarot, www.biddytarot.com/tarot-card-meanings/major-arcana/hermit . Accessed 16 January 2025. Gong, Tina. “Labyrinthos.”Labyrinthos, https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/tarot-card-meani...

The history of Samhain: the most liminal time of the year + a ritual a ritual and tarot spread to send you on your way! CW: pet death; abusive/strained relationship with parent find me online: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/darkhabitsmag/ Mastodon: https://mastodon.social/@darkhabits contact me here or via email: darkhabitsmag@gmail.com article: https://www.darkhabits.net/post/samhain ritual...

How to make Autumn Equinox (Mabon) as personalized as possible in order to celebrate all that you have harvested as well as to let go of that which no longer serves you. link to Autumn Equinox ritual + tarot spread: https://www.darkhabits.net/post/mabon-ritual-tarot-spread/ Autumn Equinox Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6eWzgYfcUAOcvitZfLZN90?si=6ce131ca23b84f5b Spellbound Kevin MacLeo...

Megan and Ryen meet up to discuss trans feminist pioneer and activist, Sylvia Rivera. Sources: Season1: Episode 1: Sylvia Rivera – Part 1, Making Gay History | LGBTQOral Histories, Episodefirst published October 13, 2016. Season3: Episode 1: Sylvia Rivera – Part 2, Making Gay History | LGBTQOral Histories from the Archive, Episodefirst published October 22, 2017. Bonus:From the Vault: Sylvia River...

In this episode, Megan talks about the first harvest festival: Lughnasadh that is part of the eight sabbats in the pagan Wheel of the Year, when we gather together and give thanks for what we have in abundance. Spellbound Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

In the latest episode of Dark Habits, Megan gets together with Ryen to share the story of the life and times of queer rights pioneer, Harvey Milk. Also discussed: how unlike the Bluth family's banana stand, there was never money in Dan White's potato stand, and why street potatoes need to become a global thing. Conspiracy theory: is Harvey Milk's ghost watching over the best bahn mi sh...

Megan and Gudrun talk about the summer solstice, its origins, different ways of honoring the solstice around the world...and a possible ghost in a tea kettle situation. Sources: https://www.chichenitza.com/blog/solstice-in-chichen-itza   www.nippon.com   https://visitsweden.com/what-to-do/culture-history-and-art/swedish-traditions/midsummer-tradition/midsummer-sweden-something-another-world/   htt...

Megan tells Ryen all about the life and times of trans femme singer and activist, Jackie Shane. Sources: Sources: Iannacci, Elio, 2017, Jackie Shane’scoming home , The Globe and Mail, https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/jackie-shanes-coming-home/article36599423/ Corp, Isabel, 2021, Any Other Way: The Life & Times of Jackie Shane | Have You Seen Her , A Grrrl’s Two Cents, https://www.you...

Megan and Gudrun get together to talk about Beltane, the first day of spring. Listen in (along with Gudrun's familiar, Pan) as they discuss how to make this holiday meaningful for you. Spellbound Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0

Join Ryen and Megan to learn about Aries season, Aries sun signs and our featured queer Aries: Anne Lister - as some historians have called "the first modern lesbian". Also discussed will be the conspiracy theories that lesbians invented goth as well as Facebook relationship status. Sources: Whitbread, Helena. I Know My Own Heart: The Diaries of Anne Lister 1791 - 1840. Virago. 1988 &quo...

Megan and Ryen come together to celebrate Trans Day of Visibility and discuss the life and times of civil rights pioneer, Bayard Rustin. This is a long one, so feel free to treat it like a two-parter! Get up, stretch your legs, play some pickleball and come back when you need to. *Content Warming* this episode contains racial slurs in context of the era and situation. Please take care while listen...

Megan tells us about the history of Spring Equinox, discusses their approach god and goddess worship from a non-binary perspective - and different ways fertility can be interpreted, as well as shares a ritual and tarot spread to mark the holiday. Sources: Spring Equinox - Ostara https://www.darkhabits.net/post/spring-equinox-ostara Spring Equinox Tarot Spread https://www.darkhabits.net/post/spring...

Megan and Ryen are back to talk about Aquarius Sun signs as well as notable queer Aquarius: Pamela Colman Smith, the woman who created what we think of when we think of tarot today. Sources: Decker, Ronald; Dummett, Michael (2019). A History of the Occult Tarot . London: Duckworth Giles, Cynthia (1994). The Tarot: History, Mystery, and Lore . New York: Simon & Schuster Kaplan, Stuart R. (2018)...