How To Be Magical

About How To Be Magical

How To Be Magical is an East Coast-based podcast where host Nikki Buchanan of Soul Things Botanica sits down with priests, healers, and practitioners across the African Diaspora to unpack the realities of spiritual traditions—far beyond the aesthetics. Since 2020, we’ve recorded 40+ episodes with Lucumí priests, Isese initiates, Hoodoo rootworkers, Espiritistas, Reiki masters, astrologers, and tarot readers. No fluff, no dogma—just raw conversations ✨ Let's Connect 🔮 IG: @howtobemagicalpodcast X: @howtobemagical For show notes and exclusive content, head over to soulthings.substack.com

Publisher

Soul Things Botanica

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Jan 2020

Latest episode

26 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

52 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Jun 2026

   State of The Union: Sacral Summer

   After a year-long hiatus - we're back!! In this episode, host Nikki Buchanan shares what she's been up to, from school to merch drops to spending time with family. Now more than ever, community and joy are a necessary part of survival. Speaking of community, our family and former guests of the pod are doing some amazing things! Subscribe to Devante's Substack - https://babaobz.substack.com/ Check out Iya Osundara's new urban romance series - https://a.co/d/0gaGJr6x Join Sharifa's mentorship portal - https://agenos.thinkific.com/courses/agenosmembership New merch is available at soulthingsbotanica.com - tote bags, tank tops, t-shirts, and jewelry. "Hoodoo is a Closed Practice" and "1-800 EGGUN" items are available right now. Join the newsletter for notifications about upcoming drops. STAY CONNECTED Subscribe to The Boneyard on Substack to read longform articles and opinion pieces - soulthings.substack.com IG - @soulthingsbk TikTok - @soulthingsbk Twitter - @xdecadent Facebook - Soul Things Botanica

2. 

   29 May 2025

   The Spiritual Art of Tea with Tea of Grandma Baby Apothecary

   In this captivating episode of How to Be Magical, host Nikki Buchanan sits down with Tea, the visionary behind Grandma Baby Apothecary and creator of the Black Gold Lenormand and 52 Blues Oracle decks. Tea shares her journey into Hoodoo, revealing how ancestral connections and spiritual reliance shape her creative work. The discussion delves into the heart of Hoodoo, dispelling misconceptions and emphasizing its role as a practice of listening, community, and spiritual rebirth. Tea reflects on the importance of family stories, archival research, and honoring the grandmothers who guide us. She also explores the inspiration behind her divination decks, highlighting their role as bridges to the past and tools for self-discovery. Listeners are treated to insights on decolonizing spirituality, the power of Black storytelling, and the profound impact of Tea’s art. Connect with Tea Tea’s Safe Relocation Gofundme (https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-teas-safe-relocation-journey) 🚨 IG: grandmababyapothecary (http://instagram.com/grandmababyapothecary) Substack: grandmababyapothecary.substack.com (https://grandmababyapothecary.substack.com/) Grandma Baby Apothecary (https://open.substack.com/users/7605602-grandma-baby-apothecary?utm_source=mentions) grandmababyapothecary.com (http://grandmababyapothecary.com/)

3. 

   22 May 2025

   Bad Dominicana Decoded: How Zahira Cabrera Rewrites the Rules

   In this compelling episode of How to Be Magical, host Nikki Buchanan welcomes Zahira Cabrera—activist, artist, and the voice behind Bad Dominicana—for a candid and thought-provoking conversation about survival, feminism, and reclaiming identity. Zahira shares her deeply personal journey, from enduring emotional abuse and racism in her marriage to becoming a global advocate for Black Latinx women. She recounts how her viral hashtag, #MaybeHeDoesntHitYou, shed light on the insidious nature of non-physical abuse, resonating with countless women and even leading to a TED Talk in Mexico. The episode delves into the flaws of mainstream feminism, critiquing its elitism, performative sex positivity, and failure to protect marginalized women, especially young girls facing coercion and exploitation. Zahira challenges respectability politics, emphasizing that anger is justified and necessary when fighting systemic oppression. She also reflects on the complexities of motherhood, describing how raising her autistic daughter deepened her activism and exposed the harsh realities Black mothers face, from societal disdain to institutional neglect. Art and cultural identity weave through the conversation as Zahira discusses her evocative watercolor paintings, which capture the essence of Caribbean life while honoring faceless, diasporic figures. She reveals how her creative roots trace back to her mother, a seamstress whose unrealized dreams in fashion mirror the erasure of Black and Latinx talent. The episode closes with Zahira’s vision for the future—her return to fashion and her unapologetic commitment to uplifting Black and Afro-Latina voices. Blending humor, vulnerability, and sharp critique, this episode is a rallying cry for self-liberation, artistic expression, and the transformative power of speaking one’s truth. Support Zahira’s Art & Activism Shop: shopzahirakelly.com (https://shopzahirakelly.com/) IG: @Bad_Dominicana2.0 (https://www.instagram.com/bad_dominicana2.0/) Twitter: @Bad Dominicana (https://x.com/bad_dominicana) Patreon: Bad_Dominicana (https://www.patreon.com/bad_dominicana) Download ‘The Alt Domi Mixtape’ (https://delivery.shopifyapps.com/-/06ae5193f5886e97/f2743af87ea92d8a) Soundcloud (https://soundcloud.com/bad_dominicana)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

7,110

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

20 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

18 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 64 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

85

Contact How To Be Magical

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.