On one side of the table, with a vodka soda (extra lemon), sits an acupuncturist, tarot reader, and Wiccan -- alchemist Becca Fanali. On the other side of the table, with a peaty scotch (served neat), sits a college professor, social scientist, and agnostic -- academic Kurt Braddock. Becca and Kurt have been the best of friends for many years. And for many years, Becca and Kurt have shared spirited debates, arguments, disavowals, skeptical looks, sarcastic eye rolls, and yes... happy hours.
Becca believes in the spiritual world and the shared nature of everything. Kurt believes in his five senses and what he can measure with a valid instrument.
Becca insists that Kurt should consider the miraculous nature of things. Kurt insists that Becca consider the scientific method.
In this new podcast, The Alchemist and the Academic, join Becca and Kurt as they have these discussions. Becca will explain phenomena in terms of the fantastic and supernatural. Kurt will furrow his brow and try to explain them scientifically. Listen as Becca drops knowledge on Kurt... and whether Kurt is convinced at that knowledge.
Episodes are dropped regularly, and organized into themes, including:
The occult
Pagan holidays
The supernatural
Witchcraft rituals
Non-Western medicine
...and so on.
Join The Alchemist and the Academic! At the very least, we're good drinking company.
Our alchemist and academic are back from a serious run of life events to get back on the mic and ready for Series 2! Join Becca and Kurt as they discuss what they've been up to, go over their favorite episodes of the first season, and preview the episodes coming for the second series!
The Alchemist and the Academic return... and their drinks are full!
1 Apr 2025
Update on recording schedule!
Just a little update on where we are at with recording! We have experienced some paranormal activity while recording Kurt's mediumship reading, which has ultimately led to us having to re-record! We appreciate your patience and can't wait to drop part 2 of mediumship for you soon!
25 Mar 2025
Episode 108: Mediumship (Part 1), The Medium and the Interference
In this episode, we welcome our first official guest -- medium Beth O'Brien! Here, Becca and I explore the gift of mediumship, how mediums come to understand their gifts, and what it means to them as they come to harness those gifts. We also talk to Beth about the practice of mediumship, what it feels like, and what spirits she has seen.
Interestingly, this episode was meant to be released in a single file. Meeting Beth and Kurt's mediumship reading were to take place back-to-back. While editing, however, Kurt discovered that during the reading, the file was garbled, and every time Beth spoke, her voice was filtered over with interference. Kurt tried re-recording by himself with no issues.
So, this will be the first part of another two-part episode, with the medium reading part dropping in a few weeks. For now, however, meet Beth and discover the gifts of mediumship and how they manifest. Also learn about how if Kurt was a medium, he would be ruthless in his price structures.J
Join us!
2 Mar 2025
Coven Meeting 1: Questions from Listeners!
In this, our first "coven meeting," our Alchemist and Academic take questions from listeners about the various topics they've covered so far in the first series. Becca explains why she uses such cozy ingredients in her simmer pots, why she blows cinnamon out her front door, how the moon charges water for rituals, and how psychological medication works in concert with her practice. Kurt mostly sits there and drinks red wine. It's a good time.
Join us as we engage with our listeners in this first coven meeting of the Alchemist, the Academic, and the Listeners!
9 Feb 2025
Episode 107: Acupuncture (Part 2), The Experience
Join us this week on the Alchemist and the Academic!
On this episode, Kurt experiences acupuncture first-hand and reports on his experience. As the alchemist and acupuncturist, Becca interprets Kurt's experiences and explains why he had certain sensations, and how acupuncture could be made part of Kurt's regular healing experiences. Becca and Kurt also talk about combining Eastern and Western medicine traditions, how holistic approaches can be part and parcel of sound mental health, and the spirituality of the acupuncture practice.
Kurt also introduces Becca to the Doozers on Fraggle Rock. Big revelations for us both!
2 Feb 2025
Episode 106: Gods, Goddesses, and Deities
As a witch, Becca calls on different deities for her needs. Protection, strength, abundance... Becca draws on the divine to help her with them all. On this episode of the Alchemist and the Academic, Becca tells Kurt all about the deities she invokes during her spellwork, as well as the different resources they provide her. One or more of Becca's familiar deities even showed up to say hello (https://drive.google.com/file/d/10eIycZ-0N1Ikt5wSAQ16_fjtZebADbcF/view?usp=sharing)...
Kurt gets excited because his minor degree in art history is finally paying off! He also discovers that there is some serious fan art dedicated to Bastet and Anubis.
Enjoy our discussion on gods, goddesses, and deities!
19 Jan 2025
Episode 105: Witchcraft (Part 2), The Ritual
On this episode you get to hear the ritual that Becca and Kurt perform! Specifically, Becca shows Kurt how to build an altar with intention, and how all the different parts of the altar come together to build a cohesive thing of spiritual beauty.
The altar that Becca and Kurt build in this episode will sit at the center of their recording space and hopefully bring good vibes to them, the podcast, and you lovely listeners.
Check out a few pictures of Becca's purification of the water elements (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ysb0UW2PR9FtsAUVOXOjqq7wxpNuGLTs/view?usp=sharing) and the completed altar (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eBz4B8hMO99mFAejSb2NoxVjwugNfVlf/view?usp=sharing).
13 Jan 2025
Episode 104: Witchcraft (Part 1), the Witch
This episode is all about witchcraft! Becca talks about how she became a witch, how she practices, and what it is like being a witch in today's climate. Kurt drops some knowledge of past wars and origins of religion. Due to the amazing banter and inquisitive minds of both hosts, this episode is split into two parts! Part 2 will be released next week, and will include the ritual that Becca does with Kurt. Links for Becca's favorite witchy shops that she gets her supplies from are listed below!
Mystical Blossoms (https://mysticalblossoms.com) in Marlton, NJ
Zen Den on Main (http://www.thecenterlifeinbalance.com/the-zen-den-on-main.html) in Medford, NJ
5 Jan 2025
Episode 103: Acupuncture (Part 1), The Background
On this episode, Becca dives into her profession of acupuncture! An ancient form of healing that developed in East Asia, and has been viewed as a placebo effect by the Western medical community. This is only part 1 due to a lot of great questions from Kurt, and, let's be honest, Becca could talk about acupuncture for hours on end. Becca covers the credentials and licensing process of what it takes to become an acupuncturist, and discusses different lenses of diagnosis. Kurt talks about his experience with acupuncture, and will be receiving a treatment on part 2! So grab your drink and join us for another fun discussion!
Links for this episode!
Becca's acupuncture practice website can be found here! (https://www.fanaliacuandintegrativemedicine.com)
Becca's professional email for any questions pertaining to acupuncture: rfanaliacu@gmail.com
30 Dec 2024
Episode 102: Tarot
Have you ever wondered what tarot cards are? Or what a tarot reading consists of? Maybe you've thought tarot was dark magic or brought in negative spirits? Becca goes into the origins of tarot, misconceptions about the cards, and how she practices this form of divination! Kurt brings a lot of great questions, along with several different theories of social science. At the end of the episode, you will hear Becca give Kurt his first ever tarot reading in real time! We even have Brooke, Kurt's wife, on as a special guest to talk about her experiences of tarot and what she thinks of Kurt's reading. So grab your favorite beverage and listen to another great discussion from our Alchemist and Academic!
The deck used in this episode is the Guided Tarot Deck by Stefani Caponi (https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Tarot-Beginners-Intuitive-Exercises/dp/0593196996/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1E111ITSLSK96&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Ryzrwd9IcgBxPxYg5RdRnTErmsLpBi40eg7IpIeAFA1g-86R_1Ms-cF4rL9J0NzdjJ1z330dvO2n2OBhh4mi72EF8TiySf0xyGACgrE7yc1SkJmkByVFknOF_mmE84qJ5yduL5ip-K3FHBTacR6nu2DFTWRg_-G2_Ld__s2N7iPFBUCEzyVfbW_-mbmx86wFgndNIpQJa4nbmFy38y_y3vTGOor6jSWQY1O7lLXZgUk.9ptfAUkrzt5rffmn6yVvHvYKDQkIt1IoBMlt57Gm3tU&dib_tag=se&keywords=guided+tarot&qid=1735520244&sprefix=guidedtarot%252Caps%252C102&sr=8-1).
For her personal readings, Becca uses the Modern Witch Tarot Deck by Lisa Sterle and Vita Ayala (https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Witch-Tarot-Deck/dp/1454938684/ref=sr_1_1?crid=22JYDEWBPFXI7&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.QFPrXoLFFVnMKngsuspjGGO8sTlUKN8eW--UtsinpT7Kt8OB2Oqh-kbGXpWnAZ6SPcMjE5y2ip8A3pNWxrSOcpytXqjHQzONzrsaF5m9kbkPV37GVDFtjAoOlwuMYmeE0Qw0UyekzinrdVszeixuAJud8IlGWnm-CdbL5NifOnpHZDUeUi9-pxf0CpQzMseLvdWdPl9VGbBvKr7MJLUo28K7El5iPOVgeJZprhC0T5A.EuVTebcY_X3AArOCzuBQq8hb8dFSxwN9T7naaG_Rr_w&dib_tag=se&keywords=modern+witch+tarot+deck&qid=1735520306&sprefix=modern+witch+tarot+deck%252Caps%252C108&sr=8-1).
To see Kurt's tarot card draw and layout, click here (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dekFt6CcSaLqHIrgBZ4C6jV5nhM5QHZ4/view?usp=drive_link).
21 Dec 2024
Episode 101: Yule
Have you ever thought about why we put gifts for loved ones under a pine tree? Have you ever thought about why we bring a pine tree into our houses? Have you ever thought about why a jolly, white-bearded man who lives in nature gives us those gifts? Our Academic has. And our Alchemist has answers.
Join us as Becca explains how our Christmas traditions have emerged, and why they are more ingrained in us than we even know.
On this episode, Becca teaches Kurt about the Pagan holiday of Yule, and how it relates to its Christian descendant, Christmas.
14 Dec 2024
Episode 100: Meet Your Alchemist and Academic
This episode is an introduction to your Alchemist, Rebecca Fanali, and your academic, Kurt Braddock. We don't start arguing quiiiiiiite yet, but that's coming soon. Here, just meet us as your trust co-hosts, and how we come to understand the things around us.
Yes, we have drinks for the intro as well.
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Podcast Authority Score: 21 / 100
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