In this episode, legendary occult historian and ex-Blondie bassist Gary Lachman joins us to talk magic, Crowley, meme sorcery, and the reality-bending weirdness of the 21st century. From shared dreams in 1970s New York to egregores, astral hobos, and the dark gravity of Trump as a Tulpa, Gary pulls no punches.

Show Notes How a hit Blondie song was inspired by psychic experiences * Colins Wilson’s books The Outsider and The Occult * His involvement with Ordo Templi Orientis * Why Crowley’s followers creeped him out * Gary’s book, Dark Star Rising: Magick and Power in the Age of Trump * The occult revival of the 1970s (and how it compares to today) * Why reality itself is up for grabs—and what that means for Mage: The Ascension players * The movies Dark City, The Matrix and Forbidden Planet * Gary’s forthcoming memoir, Touched by the Presence: From Blondie’s Bowery and Rock and Roll to Magic and the Occult, scheduled for release on November 18, 2025, by Inner Traditions. * Plus: what happened when he contradicted David Bowie at a party*