The Mystic Order Podcast: Recent Episodes
The Mystic Order
Six Alabama women who formed a writers group over 15 years ago share their thoughts on topics ranging from travel adventures to bras. Guests bring their insights and expertise to make this podcast lively and unpredictable.
Join us for a game in which we read take turns reading you a story, then suggest follow-up scenarios, one of which is true. Can you tell the truth from fiction? Enjoy!
Kick back and let these stories trample your troubles! In this episode, the Mystics share book recommendations, Mystic Moments, and read selections from their new book, "The Mystic Memoir."
A bit of psychology, a bit of numerology, a bit of ancient wisdom, and a whole lot of advice await on this episode of the Mystic Order Podcast.
In this episode of The Mystic Order Podcast, the Mystics are joined by author Dana Gynther to try their hands at the Mystic takeoff on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. Can you guess the true stories from fiction?
They say we're doomed to repeat it, but what if history is weird? In this episode, the Mystics ponder some of histories odder people and places, including a man who creatively carved a knife to escape a frozen chasm and another who didn't understand the phrase, "till death to us part." Enjoy!
Join the Mystics as they share thoughts on fiction, including favorite works, with special guest Clarence Dean Bonner, author of I Talk Slower Than I Think: An Antidote to Helicopter Parenting.
Gal Pals are the number one indicator of long healthy life for women! Enjoy this podcast in which three Mystics ponder the marvels of friendship, and as usual, wax mystic on so much more.
In this episode, the Mystics share resolutions, promises, and manifestos. Book and movie recommendations and general shenanigans included, of course. Enjoy!
Is your head full of obscure facts? Here the Mystics gather to share some kernels of obscurity. Enjoy!
What makes your life easier? In this episode, the Mystics share their own life hacks and rate them amongst themselves. You'll find out how to turn your pick-up truck into a conveyor belt, and so many other useful tips! Joins us, and please share your favorite life hacks.
In this episode, three Mystics wax profoundly on some of their favorite things. Find out their Fab Four songs, books, and more. Bonus bit: be the first one on your block to learn why we don't milk Horny DeLeel in a bucket lid! Enjoy.
After a bit of chatter and banter, the Mystics settle in and read some of their own stories, largely memoir. Enjoy!
Have you had enough of awards ceremonies? Tonys? Emmys? Oscars? Grammys? Well get ready for a refreshing new award to cleanse your palate and your soul: The Mysties! Join the Mystics as they award the coveted Mystie Awards to those they deem worthy. What are the categories? Find out! And who knows, maybe you won a Mystie!
Everyone has that uncle, or cousin, or son . . . Here the Mystics enjoy tales of their relatives, and of course dining, traveling, reading, and other delights. Enjoy!
The Mystics laugh at their own jokes and read their own works in this episode of The Mystic Order Podcast. As always, they share their latest recommendations in food, movies, Facebook groups, and as an added bonus: whips.
What kind of traveler are you? Whether you favor the comfort of an armchair or the back of a camel, you'll enjoy traveling with the Mystics in this episode of the Mystic Order Podcast.
Bring your sparkling Christmas Selves, or your Grinchy Old Selves, to the table to join the Mystics as they wax nostalgic and share present Christmas tales. Shout-outs to books, movies, and other things worthy included. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Mystic Order! May you all dodge the naughty list this year.
In this episode, six Mystics gather around the table to share their fears and phobias, and to try their hands at diagnosing themselves and others. Shoutouts to books, travels, and food as always!
The Mystics come together to talk about healthy living, and not so healthy living. The Mystic Order is not responsible for any consequences of listeners emulating the Mystic ways of soothing the mind, body, and spirit.
Due to popular demand, the Mystics devote this episode to reading their own writings. Enjoy these snippets of memoir from each Mystic. And as usual, delight in their endorsements of all things worthy, including books, foods, and travels.
Just what is a Renaissance Woman? One who rides in cars with strangers who don't drive well? One who wears a mystical hat to get cell phone reception? Join the Mystics as they explore what it means to be a Renaissance Woman. Take the quiz to see how you score, and leave your score in the comments!
It's been a year since the Mystics have gathered around the table to chat, much less record a podcast! In this episode, the Mystics talk about what they've learned from the pandemic, beds they've acquired, accidental lawn mowings, possible book thieving, and a mention of mystical snake encounter. Be our guests as we return to the table!
Yikes! Half the Mystics have gone AWOL. Among the missing is Mystic Mary, who selected today’s topic, Notebooking, before calling in a personal leave day. The three remaining Mystics bravely endeavored to stay on topic. We were reasonably competent until someone mentioned effigy parties and imaginary friends.
Settle in as the Mystics read to you tales of youth, love, and death. Their narratives are eclectic: a 60s pop festival, a priest named Father Spaghetti, and a sashay around a Beau Bridge dance floor. Straight from The Mystic Order’s books and memories, these stories should not be missed.
Mystic fans, get out your jotting-down pens and legal pads. In this podcast, The Mystics list their favorite books. (Alert your book club.) We have left the studio to record this show from the charming Auburn Oil Co. Booksellers. Our guest is owner, June Wilcox. We have awarded June and the Booksellers five stars. Our star, The Mystic Queen, gives advice on leaving a mundane, tedious book and perhaps a boring lover.
The Mystic Order should receive hazardous pay for this podcast. It was recorded during an Alabamian flooding rain and driving thunderstorm that shook the studio, a.k.a Mystic Mary’s house. Who knew our innocent topic, Hair, would have to be so heavily edited? We think the finished product is politically correct and rated no higher than "For Mature Audiences."
If you have never listened to a Mystic Order podcast, honestly, this is the one to try, if only to experience the Mystic Prince tell about the Yukon’s Sour Toe Cocktail. Supposedly, the initial plan was to discuss southern cooking, and there is some of that…chitlins, cracklin bread, pone, grits and mayonnaise sandwiches. However, as usual, we couldn’t resist the weirdness of vegemite, posho, and mountain oysters. (No animals were harmed in this podcast.)
In homage to Saint Valentine, The Mystics explore Love. Mystic Mary absolutely cannot resist dissecting affection as if it was a science driven by neurotransmitters. She is overtaken by her sisters who begin to quote beguiling love poetry and humming songs of amore. Unable to continue on the straight and narrow, the group drifts into mentioning the fancying of our cousins as stars fell on Alabama last night.
Mystic Marian guides the Mystic sisters through this six-feet deep podcast. Oddly, The Mystics seem to know an inordinate amount about places of burial. Our guest, Melissa Dickson Jackson, also proves to be proficient in graveyard lore. Mystic Marian steals the show with a truth is stranger than fiction story of a long dead relative exploding in his grave. Her own plans for burial were thwarted when her parents filled in the home-place swimming pool. In the end, life must go on.
Mystic Joanne, the only barrister in our bevy, serves as moderator for this crime podcast. Mystic Marian has studied crime at length on true crime television, and has organized crime into categories such as Georgia felonies and misdeeds by men named Peterson. After some discussion of physiognomy, Mystic Joanne searches the court for signs of sanpaku. Finally, The Mystics have a bit of advice for the listening audience. If a neighbor asks for help in moving a heavy rug or barrel, politely refuse.
Looks like Mystic Joanne is going to put her defender talents to use in this podcast about gardens. One Mystic admits to having grow-lights hidden under the floors of her unusual house. Why? Mystic Katie tries to keep the group on task, while Queen Gail endeavors to avoid appearing to be a trashy southerner raising award winning collards instead of roses in her garden. Kudzu takes over.
The ambient noise in the background of this Mystic podcast is the sound of customers in Mama Mocha’s Coffee Emporium. This change of studio was Mystic Mary’s suggestion. She is now on unpaid leave. However, she did skillfully navigate the Mystics through psychic phenomena such as tarot and tea leaf readings, big foot sightings, and the paranormal floating of a Buick Regal. We are joined by two guests, author Dana Gynther and a drop-in visitor. Did we get his name before he vanished?
Season two emerges with a rollicking start. A Mystic offspring, Rivers Langley, is this week’s guest. We begin the session with New Year’s resolutions. Mystic Katie slips in at the recording half-mark and misses resolutions which she possibly needs. Our topic, Quirky Museums and Other Road-side Attractions, leads to a provocative discussion. The Mystics recently visited Cullman Alabama’s world-famous Ave Maria Grotto where Mystic Joanne, a devout Catholic, flirts with a monk. Mystic Joanne obviously needs some guiding resolutions.
Well this is strange. In this episode, Mystic Mary gets Cher mixed up with Grace Jones while trying to lead her sister Mystics (and our guest) through the ins and outs of story writing. Mystic guest, Mary Helen Brown, is fixated on prison food and whomp biscuits. And while we are on the subject of food gone awry, Queen Gail relates a tale of her consort Bob, in an effort to make New York pizza, tossing the dough into the overhead fan. Things get messy.
Some of the Mystics have been perusing Wikipedia. Podcast #10 is fraught with animal facts peppered with animal kingdom pornography. The Queen does not approve, but lets her hair down long enough to tell of her unfortunate detention due to an over zealous beagle in the Atlanta airport. Mystic Joanne goes moose hunting. The game is afoot.
The Mystics endeavor to stay on the subject of writing magical realism and telling ghost stories. As you might expect, exploring this theme only lasts briefly. Soon the writers are off and running with fanciful ways to attract a lover. Talismans and scents head the list of love magnets. Mystic Marian suggests YlangYlang which sounds dangerous. The Mystic Queen dissuades the sisters of using pheromone cologne as it is just no telling who such would attract. The Loa of Love is mentioned along with Marie Laveau. Voodoo plays a part.
The Mystics return to their roots and travel to a genteel plantation. Sitting in the splendor of the Ole’ South, some misbehaving Mystics use this as an excuse to start wine-hour very early. Mystic Marian wears galoshes in order to walk among the herds of cows and goats. Not satisfied with one road trip, they travel to a library in North Alabama and meet a cat named Kitty Boo Boo. Mystic Mary forgets herself as well as her Mystic handle. The Mystic Queen pimps her car. Voodoo is mentioned.
One Mystic and our esteemed guest begin this session sounding as if they were podcasting from a bathtub. This is not possible as The Queen disapproves of bathing while recording. Soon the sound is remedied. Sadly, podcast 12 is the end of season one. The Mystics endeavor to brighten their spirits by listing those lucky people they would while away the hours with on a desert island. Mystic Mary keeps stealing others’ choices of island mates. (Naughty Mary.) Our guest, Hans Paul, lends his vast knowledge of islands to this final 2019 podcast. Join us for our New Year’s Resolution podcast on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. In the meantime, “Be the flame, not the moth.”
Not only are The Mystics themselves strange and captivating, but their topic for podcast number seven is as well. Mystic Marian fittingly moderates, leading The Mystics into the murky waters of the odd people populating our planet. We again talk about Mayhayley Lancaster, and follow that vein of thought to the blue Fugates of Kentucky and the carnival folk of Gibtown, Florida. With all six Mystics in attendance, this is not a podcast for the weak of heart.
The Mystics, and their guest, Terry Rodriguez (jazz crooner and gifted artist), take a serious look at art and oracles. The Mystic Queen seems to be broadcasting from her bathtub. She has now fired the sound editor. Mystic Katie, co-author of Oracle of the Ages, weighs in on the life of Mayhayley Lancaster, famous Georgia soothsayer. The Mystics review local bars and the Doo-Nanny, a defunct, but not forgotten, happening in Seale, Alabama. No need to travel to Burning Man.
The Mystics are joined by a gifted poet and fellow Auburnite, Ken Autrey. Along with Ken, we travel to many countries near and far. Some of the journeys are in our imaginations. The Mystics talk about their world tour through Mississippi and how they accidentally bypassed the world famous Ave Maria Grotto while in route. We class up the podcast by hashing over some of our favorite poetry and poets, James Dickey, Allan Ginsberg, and Emily Dickinson. Mystic Marian admits to spending an evening with James Dickey. Mystic Katie impresses the group by mentioning her stop in Wewahitchka on her way to St. George Island.
The Mystics reminisce about their early years, and share readings from their books. Today’s topic (Poetry) gets a cursory mention, before The Mystics wander off into subjects closer to their dark hearts. Strange occurrences and death as well as other matters of intrigue are given close attention. Bigfoot comes into play, and Mystic Margee admits to being a Neanderthal. Finally, The Mystic Queen becomes an object of jealousy as she attended the 1969 Atlanta Pop Festival. Also, she has many young suitors.
The Mystics endeavor to stay on topic discussing the deluxe addition of their first book, 'Be The Flame, Not The Moth'. They are not successful and fall into remembering their field trip to the magical house of Nina, a collector of all things marvelous. They wander off into other adventures including the Sundance Film Festival and the freezing capital of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada. Mystic Margee steals the show with her holding forth (so to speak) on wearing a padded bra during junior high lunch period.
The Mystic Order of East Alabama’s premier podcast, The Sacred Wednesday, is available now. Five of the six Mystics chat about the birth of the writers’ group and our first home in the Bruno’s Supermarket. Because she is absent, we talk behind The Nebulous Mystic Mary’s back. Mary was the Mystic guest who refused to leave. As it turns out, there was a position left open when The Pete Best Mystic declined to return. Finally, Mystic Marian steals the show admitting and detailing her three marriages to the same man.