The Witchcast Podcast

It's the most wonderful time of the year! And what's more festive — and witchy — then gathering around the fire and sharing spooky tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago?

In this episode, Kate and Emily do just that! First, Emily dives deeper into the story and origins of the Icelandic Yule Cat. Then Kate goes in-depth on the origins of everyone's favorite horned devil, the Krampus, and finds some other disturbing Winter Companions along the way.

Then Kate pulls a card from her Crystal Oracle Deck with a lovely message for the week.

Follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast or check out our website www.witchcastpodcast.com for more.

Hex yeah.

This week we're joined by comedian and writer Zubi Ahmed (@chopzubicomedy). We talk djinn lore, growing up around supernatural warnings, and what it's like navigating the world when your family treats spirits like just another set of nosy relatives.

Zubi digs into Bengali folklore, ghost stories from her childhood, and why cultural beliefs around the unseen can shape everything from anxiety to identity. We also get into intuition, superstition, generational fear, and how being funny sometimes becomes the first form of spiritual protection.

Then Emily closes the episode by drawing a card from her Bird Oracle deck with a special message for the week!

Follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast or check out our website www.witchcastpodcast.com for more.

Hex yeah.

This week on Witchcast, Emily and Kate sit down with Fio Gede Parma (@fiogedeparma, they/she): Witch, teacher, priestex, magical mentor and author — all the way from Sydney, Australia. Fio shares their path from childhood mediumship to initiated practice, and everything in between.

We discuss spirits, ancestors, ecstatic witchcraft, queer witch identity, anti-colonialism, as well as Fio's several books, teachings and their upcoming retreat. Then Fio pulls a tarot card from their Thoth Tarot Deck for some weekly guidance.

Follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast or check out our website for video clips, links, photos, and all the witchy extras from this conversation.

Hex yeah.

This week on Witchcast, Emily and Kate sit down with writer-translator duo Komal Salman and Shaherzaad Laila, the creators of Heartstrings of the Khyber, a wondrous collection of Pashto folktales translated for a modern audience. Together, we discuss the origins of Folkloristan, where the preservation collection began, and how they've strived to "un-whitewash" Pakistan's oral storytelling traditions, revealing how colonialism, feminism, and myth intertwine across centuries. We talk djinns, fairies, and romance gone wrong (turns out, "don't fall in love" is a recurring moral), the challenges of working with Western publishers, and why translating "cake" for "chapati" says everything about cultural context.

Then Kate pulls a card from her Korean Four Seasons Hwatu Oracle deck!

It's a lively, funny, and eye-opening conversation about magic, myth, and the women keeping their stories alive. Follow @witchcastpodcast or check out our website witchcastpodcast.com for more magick.

Recorded live at littlefield, Brooklyn NYC, it's Witchcast Podcast Live: Halloween Spooktacular— part comedy show, part group spell, part total chaos (in the best way).

In this special episode, we're sharing some of our favorite moments from the night. Kate performs an extra spooky version of a vacation slideshow, revealing what she learned about cannibal medicine in early Colonial times and the Clue Murder House at Salem, MA. Emily dives deep into ghosts and spooky entities, including why Nova Scotia is pretty haunted to a few chilling personal stories. Then we wrap things up by roasting the entire zodiac and explaining why every sign kinda sucks (with lots of love).

The show also featured stand-up from Tim Murray, a prosperity spell and comedy set from Carmen Marissa, two stunning drag performances by Eden Darkstar, and a collective tarot pull from Laura Lukos of @goldenwillowhealing.

We're only sharing select highlights here, but follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast for more clips, behind-the-scenes chaos, and the full spooky glory of the night. And check out our website at witchcastpodcast.com for more goodies and visuals!

Hex yeah! 🖤

In this episode, Emily and Kate welcome author, poet, and "trading post witch" Lauren Parker (@fuckyeahlaurenparker), the writer behind Spells for Success — a spellcraft oracle deck recently published with Simon & Schuster. Together they explore the intersections of witchcraft, writing, and creativity, discussing everything from ancestor work and tarot to what it means to live a life built on intentional generosity and artistry. Lauren shares her journey through magick and spirituality, the joy of spell-crafting with everyday materials, and a few hot takes that will have you rethinking how you craft your own practice.

Bonus: Lauren also pulls two cards from her new Spells for Success oracle deck and walks us through simple, powerful spells you can try at home along with us!

Don't forget to rate and review, and follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast for episode extras and behind-the-scenes magic.

Witchy vibin' writer, cheesemonger, and former Lizzie McGuire writer Nina Bargiel joins us to talk about her new book The Crone Zone, a sharp, funny, and empowering guide to embracing your inner witch, your middle-age metamorphosis, and your outer "f*ck it" energy. We chat about aging with power, finding freedom in chaos, her Slavic witchy lineage (complete with Baba Yaga roots), and why a caftan might just be the ultimate spell for self-confidence.

This one's for anyone who's ever been called "too much," worn all black to a confirmation, or felt the call of their inner crone rising.

✨ Listen wherever you get your podcasts and follow us on Instagram @witchcastpodcast for fun visuals and behind-the-scenes magick.

It's just Emily and Kate around the cauldron for this week's extra-chaotic show and tell as we officially descend into spooky season. Together, they revel in the shift from Libra to Scorpio season, from the full moon in Aries to the new moon in Libra, and share a few of their latest magical obsessions.

Kate shows off her latest witchy finds from Salem, MA, including an onyx crow, animal bones, and a new candle to honor Hecate, while Emily unveils a surprising elixir that's been giving her life lately. (Hint: It's hard to find but carried everywhere!)

Then, Emily shares a cord-cutting ritual perfect for seasonal transitions while Kate walks us through an easy manifestation spell that ends with a full-on fireball. Finally, Emily draws a card from her Moon Power Tarot deck that's a perfect message for Libra season.

Find all the photos and videos from this episode on Instagram @witchcastpodcast — and yes, the fireball is as intense as it sounds. 🔥

In this spellbinding (and emotional!) conversation, Emily and Kate sit down with Scottish food historian Peter Gilchrist (@tenementkitchen) to talk about community building through food, Samhain traditions, ancestral recipes and how folklore weaves power into everyday life.

From the working-class kitchens of Paisley to the deeper meanings of Hallowe'en, Peter shares how cookbooks, oral traditions, and women coming together have shaped Scotland's history and cultural memory. We dive into everything from shortbread secrets to the politics of folklore, food orphans, and witchcraft as resistance. Plus, Peter introduces us to one of Scotland's most fascinating folklorists and suffragettes, Florence Marion McNeill.

Then Kate pulls a card from her Modern Tarot deck that affirms our long-range investment eras! This episode is part history lesson, part cultural reclamation, and fully magical.

Follow @witchcastpodcast and check out our website www.witchcastpodcast.com for links, photos and more! ⭐️ And please rate, review & subscribe to help us continue to expand our coven. Hex yeah!

In this episode, we're joined by healer and career coach Ellen Chang to explore the intersections of disability, spirituality, and self-acceptance. Ellen shares her journey navigating the world as a disabled Asian American woman, her work with Theta Healing, and how reframing disability can lead to empowerment and deeper connection with self and spirit. We also talk about ableism, evolving cultural conversations, and what it means to heal on your own terms.

Then Emily pulls a card from her Druid Craft Tarot deck and one practically jumps out at us, demanding to be seen!

Whether you're curious about energy work, interested in disability justice, or just looking for inspiration to live more authentically, this conversation is definitely inspiring.

Links and photos on our Instagram @witchcastpodcast and website at witchcastpodcast.com. Don't forget to rate, review and subscribe for more witchy wisdom. Hex yeah! 🖤🔮