For centuries, the old ways of these islands weren’t written down—they were carried in song, poetry, and myth. Today, that tradition is alive and well. In this episode, we sit down with David Smith, better known as Damh the Bard (and yes, we explain how to pronounce it!). From his 15 years as Pendragon of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids (OBOD) to weaving Welsh myth into acoustic folk, Damh has been a defining voice of modern nature spirituality for decades.
We trace his journey from teenage tarot reader and heavy metal drummer to finding his spiritual home among the Druids. Along the way, we uncover the fascinating shared history of modern Wicca and OBOD, how a naturist resort in St. Albans became ground zero for the modern Wheel of the Year, and why Damh traded his career running a woodland bushcraft school to follow the flow of Awen.
Plus, we cover everything from the hilarious origin of his festival inflatable bananas to the Loch Ness Monster, cryptids, and a deep philosophical chat about digital footprints and what podcasting leaves behind.
In this episode:
What's in a Name: How a Gaelic pronunciation guide and Robin of Sherwood's Herne the Hunter inspired the moniker "Damh the Bard" (Stag the Bard).
The Three Schools of OBOD: Breaking down the distinct paths of Druidry. Bards handle creativity and this world, Druids focus on teaching and community (the sky), and Ovates—the Druid shamans/witches—work with the underworld, the moon, and healing.
The River of Awen: Damh’s philosophy on songwriting, magic, and Wyrd—treating divine inspiration as a river that flows through us, and why "if you do magic, don't be surprised when it works."
Punk Rock Podcasting: A look back at the wild west of early podcasting in 2007 when Damh pitched Druidcast to OBOD, and why preserving the digital voices of pagan elders like Maxine Sanders and Margot Adler is so vital.
The Banana Phenomenon: How a series of pandemic-era Facebook Live shows turned into fans asking Damh to autograph foam bananas at live festivals across the globe!
New Music Announcement: Damh shares details on his compilation album, Songs from the Mabinogi.
Stay Wyrd!
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Written and hosted by Craig Brooks and Andy Stevens
Edited by Craig Brooks
Intro music by Antipodean Writer: Full of Soul - Neon Waves Extended - Remix
Outro music by Colt Fingaz: Ding Ding Dong
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