Ultraculture With Jason Louv

In this episode, we're talking about the Ars Notoria, a 13th-century Latin textbook of magic (now retroactively called a grimoire) from Northern Italy, which claims to grant its solitary practitioner an enhancement of his or her mental faculties (i.e., memory, eloquence, and intelligence), spiritual faculties for communicating with angels, and the acquisition of earthly and heavenly knowledge thro...

In this episode, we speak to author John Sandbach, who illuminates the Tarot as a portal to realms of wisdom. It not only can provide deep insight through traditional readings but also offers a hands-on way to learn multiple spiritual practices and metaphysical systems, each interrelated through numbers and the ways the systems are worked with to reveal cosmic truths. Sandbach explores the deep in...

In this episode of the Ultraculture podcast, Jason Louv welcomes esteemed author and scholar Edward Bruce Bynum, Ph. D. Dr. Bynum discusses his groundbreaking book Our African Unconscious, which focuses on the spiritual and psychological origins of humanity in Africa. He explores the concept of the Oldawan, or the Ancient Soul of Africa, and its connection to what modern psychologists define as th...

In this riveting episode of our podcast, taken from a recent livestream, join Jason Louv as he navigates the complexities of our current world situation. This episode is a deep dive into the intersections of magick, global politics, and personal growth – with lots of space for "Office Hours"-style questions from the audience. Jason candidly shares his thoughts on the global shift towards extremism...

Ari Freeman is the Deputy Wizard of Christchurch, New Zealand—if you've ever seen the Official Wizard of New Zealand, then yeah, he's that guy's apprentice! He also has a new book out, Pragmatic Magical Thinking—here's the book description: "The modern Western world has often raised its eyebrows at magic, associating it with madness and superstition. However, this ignore the fact of the matter tha...

My great friend Caleigh Fisher returns to the podcast for the third time, and OUR MOST EPIC CONVERSATION YET! Caleigh ran the Toronto Access Point for Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth throughout the 1980s; we met on the old Barbelith message board in the early 2000s and then in person when I made it to New York in 2003. I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO FATHOM THE DEPTHS AND HEIGHTS OF THIS CONVERSATION. I have...

Mark Alan Miller is a Saturn-Award winning producer and New York Times Bestselling author. He has written and produced dozens of titles across high-level outlets. He's developed and created content with Clive Barker, Tom Holland, Joe R. Lansdale, Dark Horse Comics, Boom Studios, St. Martin's Press and more. Additionally feature and television work has been seen on Prime, Peacock, Netflix, and Hulu...

In this episode, Jason gives a dramatic reading of the Diamond Sutra. The Diamond Sutra, a Mahāyāna Buddhist text, is notable for its influence on East Asian Buddhism, especially within the Chan or Zen tradition. Translated across a wide geographic range, it's revered for its teachings on "perfection of wisdom." Historically significant, it's recognized as one of the earliest dated printed books,...

Step into the captivating world of Dr. Ralph Abraham, a renowned American mathematician whose career has spanned decades and traversed continents. In this exclusive podcast interview, remastered from an epic conversation we had in 2018, we delve deep into the life and work of the professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. From his early days earning degrees at t...

In this immersive episode, we explore the harmonious dance of art and alchemy with renowned artist Marlene Seven Bremner. Drawing from her seminal work, "The Hermetic Marriage of Art and Alchemy," Bremner unveils the transformative power of alchemical processes as they relate to human creativity. Moving beyond traditional conceptions of artistry, we dive deep into the Hermetic arts, exploring how...

In this evocative episode, we delve into the multidimensional life and works of Timothy Wyllie (1940-2017). This is a remaster of the conversation we had with him shortly before his death—it was just too important to leave in the vaults. We talk about angels, the Process, ketamine, PCP, UFOs, disembodied intelligences, and ALL KINDS of other WEIRD SH*T. You're gonna love it! From his roots in Grea...

In this deeply thoughtful and enlightening episode, we have the pleasure of conversing with Anne-Marie Keppel, the award-winning author of "Death Nesting" and a fervent advocate for compassionate, holistic end-of-life care. Anne-Marie opens up about her journey into the realm of death doula practices and the insights that have shaped her understanding of death as a sacred rite of passage. Through...

🌌 In this episode, we dive deep into the enigmatic magic of the Orphic Hymns—potent initiatic poems that have been the cornerstone of meditation, ritual, and esoteric ceremonies for millenia. In conversation with Ronnie Pontiac, we unravel new translations of these teletai, recapturing the magnetic aura that has sparked the curiosity and devotion of mystics across the ages. Ever heard of golden p...

Dive deep into the culinary history of America with our esteemed guest Christina Ward. From riding in the Wienermobile with Padma Lakshmi for "Taste the Nation" to her intriguing contributions to transgressive art, Christina's journey is nothing short of remarkable. In her latest offering, "Holy Food: How Cults, Communes, and Religious Movements Influenced What We Eat—An American History," set to...

Embark on a transformative journey into the mystical realm of curanderismo with our distinguished guest Erika Buenaflor, M.A., J.D., a seasoned curandera and a descendant of a long lineage of grandmother curanderas...! With an academic foundation from the University of California, Riverside, focusing on Mesoamerican shamanism, Erika seamlessly weaves the ancient with the contemporary. Her latest w...

Today, we journey deep into the world of occultism with very special guest Mitch Horowitz, a PEN Award-winning historian, writer-in-residence at the New York Public Library, and a voice that has garnered respect across academic, journalistic, and subculture circles. Mitch's latest book 'Modern Occultism: History, Theory, and Practice,' takes us on a vibrant, epic journey through the annals of occu...

Connie Zweig, Ph. D., author of "Meeting the Shadow on the Spiritual Path: The Dance of Darkness and Light in Our Search for Awakening," joins us in an enlightening conversation that delves into the complex interplay between spiritual longing and the shadow self. This episode explores the journey of spiritual awakening, the challenges of betrayal and disillusionment, and the path to rekindling spi...

Swedish author Carl Abrahamsson and American artist and psychoanalyst Vanessa Sinclair join us in an engaging conversation that explores the integration of magic, art, and psychoanalysis in their daily lives. As a married couple, they have successfully merged these fascinating fields, creating a unique blend of creativity, self-discovery, and mystical exploration. In this episode, Sinclair & Abrah...

Paul Levy, author of "Undreaming Wetiko: Breaking the Spell of the Nightmare Mind-Virus," joins us in a profound conversation that delves into the depths of the human psyche and the insidious mind-virus known as "wetiko." A concept deeply rooted in Native American thought, wetiko represents a collective psychosis that is wreaking havoc on our world. Yet, as Levy passionately explains, within this...

Jim Christy is an author, artist, spoken word performer, and a man who was once described as 'one of the last unpurged North American anarchistic romantics.' With a life as colourful as his narratives, Christy's journey from the tough streets of South Philadelphia to his current residence in Ontario has been nothing short of extraordinary. In this intimate conversation, Christy reveals his diverse...

In this episode of Ultraculture, we sit down with journalist Ika Johannesson to talk about her book BLOOD FIRE DEATH, on the history of Swedish Metal. From the book: "In the early 1990s, Swedish musicians revolutionized the international music scene with their groundbreaking interpretations of what Metal music could be. Suddenly, the mild-mannered Scandinavian country found itself at the forefront...

In this episode, we delve into England's Hidden Reverse—the history of the occult industrial bands Coil, Current 93, Nurse With Wound, Throbbing Gristle, Psychic TV, and the monumental spells they cast on music and popular occulture. Our intrepid guide on this journey is Scottish writer David Keenan, a literary and musical polymath known for his innovative contributions to the UK cultural scene. B...

I went to New Orleans and all I got was this awesome 2 1/2 hour sitdown with Damien Echols! Damien Echols, a profound teacher of magick, author, and martial artist, should need no introduction. You may know him from his appearance on the Midnight Gospel or his extensive work in the field of magick. In this episode, we sat down to take turns interviewing each other, resulting in a rich, two-and-a-h...

In this episode, we're thrilled to welcome our special guest, Alan Green, a British-born pianist, composer, author, educator, and a scholar of the Shakespeare Authorship mystery. Alan's career is as diverse as it is impressive, having served as the musical director for Davy Jones of the iconic 60's pop group, The Monkees, and co-authoring two best-selling, award-winning books about their journey....

In this fascinating episode of Ultraculture, host Jason Louv sits down with Steve Bergsman, the author of "I Put a Spell On You: The Bizarre Life of Screamin' Jay Hawkins." This book brings together hundreds of interviews with the larger-than-life musician Screamin' Jay Hawkins, his family, and bandmates to weave a new tale of the life of this seminal rock and roll pioneer. In our conversation, St...