Gaia Unveiled

Bonus Collection G!

Sun, 19 Nov 2023 16:00:03 +0000

So... my voice is still healing. Fortunately, there's enough material for a compliation episode! If you'd rather hear 45 minutes' worth of episodes a once, like a mini-binge but without hearing the theme song and stuff over and over, this is the episode for you.

You'll find:

45 -- Slide Me Some...
46 -- No Planet B
48 -- Dirty Seeds Done Dirt Cheap
49 -- Weather Aboveground
52 -- The Charge of Lady of Science
54 -- The Auras of Stars
59 -- Feathers
60 -- These Are Not Plants

This is also a great episode to introduce the podcast to a friend. Thanks, and enjoy!

Episode Delayed One Week

Sun, 05 Nov 2023 23:59:25 +0000

Heya. I have been sick most of the week, with a lot of coughing, but did manage to record at least this much, for the folks who dont read descriptions. Basil and I will getcha an ep next weekend, and then we'll be back on the regular schedule. Thnaks for your indulgence, and I'll see you when I have more brain and voice. <3

60 -- These Are Not Plants

Mon, 16 Oct 2023 03:12:15 +0000

There are more types of living things in the world than just plants and animals. There are some things that seeeeem like plants, but really aren't. Maybe one or two have fooled you? Our rituals often use flora and fauna (or Flora and Faunus even) as a source of polarity, but let's take this opportunity to talk about some other organisms as well.

59 -- Feathers

Mon, 02 Oct 2023 04:16:31 +0000

Feathers this time! And OMG Y'all...this weekend has been a comedy of errors, some very time-consuming,and I'm only now getting this up. But it happened! Basil wasn't able to join us this episode, but he'll be back next month. I'm keeping this to a simple topic. Enjoy! And share with your friends if you do. :-)

58 -- Special Guests: Bumbling Fools Mead

Sun, 17 Sep 2023 18:00:02 +0000

Finally I have manged to get the guys who are Bumblng Fools Mead onto the show. You are in for a real treat; we talk about fermentation, but also roam from there into what does honey taste like without sugar, what was the first feremneted beverage, and a fascinating side bar about where mead does or doesn't fit into the law. Oh yeah, we talk about gods, too. ;-)

Another treat is that we recorded in the brewing room/alchemist's lab at their meadery in NE Minneapolis, where you can stop in and try something delicious before you buy, and also play guinea pig for new recipes that aren't for sale. The people hanging out were clearly having a really great time, and they get a bit loud and rowdy -- but that just gives you a "you are there" experience, chatting in the backroom of the local pub. I hope it makes you want to visit.

I'm very excited about this episode. Have a great time!

57 -- River Cruisin' with Basil

Tue, 05 Sep 2023 01:01:07 +0000

Hey, Labor Day still counts as "posted on the weekend", yes? Anyway, Basil is here and we're talking about rivers. It's crazy it took this long. I had more things I was gonna say but I just can't remember them now. It was super clever, too.... But hey, rivers are amazing!

56 -- Diggin Dandelions with Basil

Mon, 07 Aug 2023 03:10:40 +0000

Wanting to celebrate the Harvest but you don't have a farm, or even a garden? Well Basil's back, and we're talking about gathering wild food! How to get started, some tasty things, some caveats. I apologize for sounding rushed.... I was. Had a hard deadline on recording. Added to my enthusiasm on the topic, it's a very...energetic episode. Now I need to go have a snack and a nap.

55 -- Teas and Tisanes

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 02:21:44 +0000

Regular co-host Basil joins Lady River to talk about tea and Tea; why they are so useful, and why paring them with other preparations can be awesome or trouble. Some chemistry, some herbalism, some storytelling.

54 -- The Auras of Stars

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 21:20:49 +0000

This episode is about one of my favorite pieces of tech, the spectrophotometer. It really is magic. Includes free and relevant bonus: a bit about the structure of atoms!

53 -- I Smell Sex and Flowers, Here...

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 17:10:21 +0000

I've really gotta pick topics for the Basil episodes that we can't make naughty. This one might not be for kids...? Sorry Mimi. Give it a listen yourself, first.

This episode's topic is flowers, which is seasonal because Spring, but also because Pride Month. Flowering plants have so many different ways to do gender. It's amazing. We're going to talk about at least some of that beautiful variety.

52 -- The Charge of Lady of Science

Sun, 21 May 2023 15:00:02 +0000

Something a little different this time. You're gettin' it rough and ready this episode. I am on a real time crunch this week, so the editing's not as picky as normal. It's still listenable though. We're in for a bit of history of the Charge of the Goddess, and the re-working of it that I did for this podcast waaaay at the beginning, but has been kinda lost in the shuffle since. Hope you like it!

51 -- Plant Senses

Tue, 02 May 2023 03:22:32 +0000

Plants have all sorts of ways to figure out what is going on around them. Regular Guest-Host Basil joins us, and we manage to stay mostly on topic and clean-minded. Get ready to have your mind unexpectedly blown at what plants can do!

Bonus Collection F!

Sun, 16 Apr 2023 22:21:40 +0000

30+ minutes of collected material. More details later this evening, but its episodes 40-44. Gotta run, will update later!

[EDIT] Hey look, I did it!

40 -- Foundation (updated!)
41 -- Junky Science Reporting and You
42 -- Islands and Polytheism
43 - How Fall Works

44 -- They Might Be Red Giants

50 -- Get Your Tomato a Friend!

Sun, 02 Apr 2023 18:06:31 +0000

Episode 50! To celebrate this milestone we're gonna be switching it up a bit with half of a format change. And by "we" I mean Basil will be joining me as a Regular Guest Host every first weekend of the month. Every third weekend will still be the old format. *Waves madly at Basil*

In honor of Spring and new companionship on the podcast, we're going to be conversing about "companion planting", and if it really makes a difference at all what you plant with what.

49 -- Weather Aboveground

Sun, 19 Mar 2023 22:15:01 +0000

Weather is all about the flow of energy, creating both patterns and results. That's pretty much what magic is, yeah? Weather is also just cool as a phenomenon, so come hear about why and how it does it's thing.

48 -- Dirty Seeds Done Dirt Cheap

Sun, 05 Mar 2023 15:00:02 +0000

It's seed catalog time!! Since I won't have time to garden this year, I'll be living vicariously through... ok, I gotta have a coupla tomatoes by the back door to snack on as we come and go, but I'll be vicariously.... OK, and maybe some mini-cukes if I can find them, but that is it. Other than that I am all talk, and it's talk about seeds. What they are, how they sprout, why we care.

47 -- Gettin' Salty with Basil

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 16:24:01 +0000

Heya folks! My BFF and Editor Basil and I had a great conversation about Salt when I visited this weekend. The audio quality: not so great. So I'm enbarassed about it, but like all good conversations it can't be repeated, so re-recording isn't an option. Also I forgot my music, so I had to post this once I got home. Experiment....not entirely a success.

That said, it may sound a bit wonky, but we have some good stuff in here about that item we use so often in magical practice, salt. Get ready to adjust your vollume, and enjoy!

Bonus: Episode Collection E!

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 21:39:00 +0000

For those who like longer podcasts. This collection is comprised of Episodes 31-39 (but not episode 37, which was 30 mins), with a single intro and out-go.

Episodes are:

-- From Grrr to Good Boi
-- From Grass to Cob
-- Planet You
-- Firewalking
-- Schrodinger's Zygote
-- Treeees
-- The Universe in a Year, in Five Minutes
-- The Earth in a Year, in Five Minutes

Thanks for all the support and suggestions! Share the podcast with your Paganfolk! See ya in 2 weeks!

46 -- No Planet B

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 02:41:45 +0000

I woulda had this out sooner, I swear, but my editor made me play Fallout76 all afternoon, instead of delivering you the witchy science you crave. Basil, you are a bad influence.

Speaking of bad influences, our planet has a nasty case of People. Why don't we just.... go somewhere else? Here's how feasible that is.

45 -- Slide Me Some...

Sun, 08 Jan 2023 20:48:29 +0000

Skin is just totally amazing! Come hear why, and why Magickckal folks would care. Love ya!

44 -- They Might Be Red Giants

Sun, 20 Nov 2022 23:08:40 +0000

Sound quality is a little rough..... there was some unavoidable *hum* from outside; removing it made this sound a bit overprocessed sounding (it is...) but much more listenable than when I started. It's also a bit longer than usual, because there is so much cool stuff to know about THE SUN. It just made me sing.

43.5 -- Y U No Ep?

Sun, 06 Nov 2022 16:30:09 +0000

So hey guys... uh.... no episode this week. I'd say why, but that would make the 45 seconds of audio irrelevant. Catch ya on the 20th!

43 - How Fall Works

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 01:42:58 +0000

This year's Autumn Color show has been especially lovely. It's been really hard to drive and accomplish things, when all I want to do is let it soak into my eyes in blissful worship. So, being obsessed, we'll talk about that. :-)

42 -- Islands and Polytheism

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 00:08:33 +0000

Sorry this is a day late: When I had time to record over the weekend, the next door neighbors decided it was Rock N Roll Share Time. *sigh* Nevertheless, here ya go, an episode about island formation and what the Hel does that have to do with polytheism?

41 -- Junky Science Reporting and You

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 17:52:43 +0000

Heavier this time on the Science than the Craft, following up on Episode 40 by talking a bit about what to look for when deciding if you want to take a science claim in public media seriously. I'll try to be more Witchy next time. ;-)

Bonus: Episode Collection D!

Sun, 21 Aug 2022 14:00:02 +0000

For those who like longer podcasts. This collection is comprised of Episodes 23-30, with a single intro and out-go.

Topics are:

-- An Episode of a Different Color
-- Smell Ya Later
--When Science Was Magic
-- The Moon's Daughter
-- Dances with Bees
-- Geometry from the Sky
-- Long Winter's Nap
-- Where the Ocean Comes to You

Thanks for all the support and suggestions! See ya in 2!

40 -- Foundation (updated!)

Mon, 08 Aug 2022 01:38:24 +0000

Our periodic review of what "Science" is, since we...talk about it a lot here. Re-recorded, so as to sound ya know, listenable, even given a little over-processing to remove the noise of airplanes that *had* to get all in my business. ;-) Have a fantastic coupla weeks my beautiful souls, and I'll be back next time with a new topic about how amazing Existence is.

39 -- The Earth in a Year, in Five Minutes

Sun, 17 Jul 2022 21:45:09 +0000

Sorry it's a bit late in the day when I'm getting this up... our sweet old kitty Samson (we didn't name him) apparently is diabetic, so figuring out what was wrong and getting him treated on a weekend was a bit fraught. He's doing better now, and Bast willing he'll continue that way for a bit. But anyway...

The earth's entire history, as if in one year. A different look at our beautiful Lady. Enjoy!

38 -- The Universe in a Year, in Five Minutes

Sun, 03 Jul 2022 17:09:07 +0000

We're taking a stroll through the highlights of all the important (to us, as Humans of course) events in the Universe, from creation to now, as if they all happened in an easy-to-conceive-of year. Mapped onto the Wiccan wheel of the year where notable, and not just "...and even more galaxies formed...."

Also! Submit your questions, either about past episodes or anything else science-y you're curious about, to gaiaunveiled@gmail.com to be answered in an upcoming episode!

37 -- Coffee with Basil

Sun, 19 Jun 2022 15:00:02 +0000

Science is all about testing hypotheses, yes? In this episode, we test the hypothesis that recording an episode as a conversation about a topic with my good friend and editor Basil, would be fun. We recorded with my old USB Snowball mic in his AirBnB. rather than in my booth, so the sound is a little rougher than usual, but it was much more luxurious. So we settled in and really got going.

Oh yeah, the topic is "caffeine".

Did you like it? Want more? Want it never again? Submit your data points to gaiaunveiled@gmail.com

36.5 Short announcement -- Y no ep

Sun, 05 Jun 2022 14:03:50 +0000

No episode this time; listen for a minute 17 seconds and find out why!

36 -- Treeees

Mon, 23 May 2022 05:24:32 +0000

Get the lowdown on trees, every Pagan Treehugger's buddies. For example: Pines just leave their nuts out there just shakin' in the wind. Pine trees DGAF. I tried to work in the actual principle of Lammas Growth, when trees have a burst of late growth around the beginning of August, but I couldn't get it in the flow, so there's a bonus fact for ya.

35 -- Schrodinger's Zygote

Mon, 09 May 2022 16:36:21 +0000

Given the recent leak of perhaps immanent law events, and actual law events inspired by it, I am compelled to address yet another topic that will lose me some listeners, and one hopes, gain others. Here then is a brief and incomplete account of embryonic development.

And Happy Mothers' Day.

34 -- Firewalking

Sun, 17 Apr 2022 18:49:21 +0000

You don't know how badly I had to resist making a Twin Peaks reference in this episode's title. We're of course talking about firewalking, or more accurately very-hot-coal walking. Usually. If you've tried this out, or even if you haven't, here is info about how heat works, and why this practice isn't miraculous. Usually...

33 -- Planet You

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 22:21:55 +0000

Pssst... you may not know it, but you are an entire world to someone. About 100 trillion someones. Some are natives, some are alien invaders, and they all affect pretty much everything you do. EVERYTHING.

32 -- From Grass to Cob

Wed, 09 Mar 2022 04:38:39 +0000

As many Gamers will tell you, there's satisfaction in grinding at a mine, or fishing hole, or farm, in order to Get Lots. That human drive led to a massive restructuring of human life when we gave up the easy life of foraging for plants, for the hard work but abundance of Agriculture. A follow-up to the previous episode on the domestication of animals, this is all about the domestication of plants.

31 -- From Grrr to Good Boi

Sun, 20 Feb 2022 18:26:39 +0000

When wolves adopted us, they changed the course of human history. Whether you approve of domestication or not, it had an impact on our lives and our Paganism in ways that can't be overstated. Come hear about domestication of animals happened, its benefits, and its drawbacks.

30 -- Where the Ocean Comes to You

Sun, 06 Feb 2022 16:00:02 +0000

Ah, me children, come wi' me doon to tha sea....*cof* I mean, come to the sea: so friendly it will crawl right up on land and hang out with you. I'm of course talking about the wonders of Tidal Pools, magical habitats of Liminality. Yes, I will make this all make sense in under 7 minutes.

29 -- Long Winter's Nap

Sun, 16 Jan 2022 17:37:22 +0000

Man. The squirrels have the right idea. Make a big pile of food and just take naps in it all Winter. Come hear about Hibernation.

28 -- Geometry from the Sky

Sat, 01 Jan 2022 18:31:34 +0000

Get out your white paper and figure out how to fold it in sixths, because today we're talking about snowflakes! Think no two are alike? It's wrong! Also right. after listening to this episode, I recommend you go look at close-up photos of snowflakes, and your day will be at least 63% better.

27 -- Dances with Bees

Sun, 19 Dec 2021 03:32:17 +0000

Bees are famous for their dancing. No, really. Second only to honey. Come hear about how they dance and why, with a coupla details even bee fans might not know. Today only: free puns!

26 -- The Moon's Daughter

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 16:00:02 +0000

I just heard about this really awesome science thing, that has nifty implications for Pagans. The asteroid Kamo'oalewa apparently was one part of the Moon! Come hear me try to pronounce Hawai'ian as I explain why we think so.

Bonus: Episode Collection C!

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 18:27:24 +0000

For those who like longer episodes. This collection is comprised of Episodes 16-22 (minus19, which was a repeat), with a single intro and out-go.

Topics are:

-- Kipling's Second Worst Mistake (solstices and equinoxes)
-- Union (eclipses)
-- This Is Your Brain on Trance (neurology of trance)
-- Fibonnaci and the Pentagram (mysticism of simple math)
and
-- You May Fascinate a Woman by Giving Her a Piece of Cheese (cheese and milk)

Thanks for all the support and suggestions! See ya in 2!

25 -- When Science Was Magic

Sat, 16 Oct 2021 15:00:10 +0000

Yes. I'm a Witch. Yeeesss I accept the validity of science. And then, the occasional response of surprise. But really, they have the same origin, you know...

24 -- Smell Ya Later

Sat, 02 Oct 2021 15:48:29 +0000

Smells connect with us physically, leading to powerful emotional and mental effects. They can send us into memories on a visceral level. Of course this has ritual applications. Bonus: next time you buy a doughnut, you can explain how it told you to by petting the inside of your nose, and it was wonderful.

23 -- An Episode of a Different Color

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 17:35:22 +0000

Do you ever wonder what color you should use for a ritual task? If there is more than just looking up color correspondences in some list? Maybe learning about what colors *are* will help you out! Also, allergies were bugging me so this episode is late and I sound like a stuffy toddler. Hope it's at least amusing. See ya!

22 -- You May Fascinate a Woman by Giving Her a Piece of Cheese

Mon, 06 Sep 2021 15:44:29 +0000

You can fascinate *me*, anyway. There's a long history of magic in this ubiquitous food, and I'm gonna tell you as much about it as I can in 7 minutes and 42 seconds. Now I *need* to go make myself a grilled cheese.

21 -- Fibonnaci and the Pentagram

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 22:04:25 +0000

Hiya! Come hear how some some simple addition leads to a trippy new POV on the pentacle! I really went down a rabbit hole and am very excited about this episode! But seriously, I can provide only a jumping off point, and some exploration on your own can being you some real insight. But start here!

Bonus content: Watch Diana learn how to spell, real time!

Bonus: Episode Collection B!

Sat, 31 Jul 2021 18:30:15 +0000

For those of you who want longer episodes, here ya go! The entire Elements Series, plus a bonus episode, a bonus within a bonus! You won't hear the repetitive intros and closings every 5-10 minutes! Set it n forget it, except remembering it too.

20 -- This Is Your Brain on Trance

Sun, 18 Jul 2021 22:30:50 +0000

Every experience we...experience...creates and/or is created by activity in the brain. That includes trance, and even the rudimentary level of present scientific investigation has some amazing implications for those of us who work in that state of consciousness.

Bonus: Episode Collection A!

Mon, 12 Jul 2021 17:21:07 +0000

For those of you who want longer episodes, here ya go! Episodes 1 - 8, with minimal transition: yes, you won't hear the repetitive intros and closings every 5-10 minutes! Set it n forget it, except remembering it too.

19 -- Foundation Revisited

Sat, 03 Jul 2021 15:00:16 +0000

A refresher course on What Science Is. Grab a snack and a cold drink, and hear what a difference a year and better equipment can make...and also, what we mean by "science" in this podcast.

18 -- Mrs Gren's Children

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 15:15:45 +0000

Just WHO is Mrs. Gren and why does she have so many freakin' kids? No one even *knows* how many! Word on the street is, that's because we don't know who counts. Come hear all about Science's struggle to define "life".

17 -- Union

Sat, 05 Jun 2021 22:52:15 +0000

In this episode, we're talking eclipses, a multi-heavenly-body power move. Don't miss your next chance to see one, and don't miss this episode before you go! And if you aren't sure it's worth the trouble, I hope I can convince you otherwise.

16 -- Kipling's Second Worst Mistake

Sat, 15 May 2021 20:47:40 +0000

Solstices and equinoxes explained for the Pagan perspective. With bonus folk singing.

15 -- The 5th Element

Sat, 01 May 2021 17:06:25 +0000

Pssst.... there isn't one. But if you must have *something* to top off your pentacle, Science has a few suggestions. It gets more mystical than Mysticism in here. Next time, the promised Solstices and Equinoxes discussion. I promise. Again. ;-)

14 -- The Elements Series, #5: In Conclusion...

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 15:00:13 +0000

As we sum up our brief journey through the Elements, we look at some states of matter that don't fall into the Usual Four, and contemplate the wonders of a universe that melds Air, Fire, Water, and Earth into marvelous things. Like... Old Bay Hot Sauce, for example (not an advertisement, a mash note.)

13 -- The Elements Series, #4: Earth

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 17:56:28 +0000

The Elements Series continues, conflating Earth with the Solid state of matter. Lady River also gets somewhat opinionated; maybe it finally being Spring is making her frisky. Come learn nifty facts about solids that you can use in ritual, magick, or any spiritual practice.

12 -- The Elements Series, #3: Water

Sat, 20 Mar 2021 22:35:01 +0000

Water is such a rich topic, we can't hope to cover it in one episode. Here we will address it as a function of Liquids, one of the four Fundamental states of matter, as our series on the four Elements of western magical practice continues. Come take a dunk, and learn some nifty things that you can use in magickal or ritual practices. Or to, just, more deeply appreciate the good thing we have going here on our little planet.

11 -- The Elements Series, #2: Air

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 16:57:32 +0000

The Elements series continues! Air, AKA Gas, is....kinda important. Both for Circle and for Breathing. Come hear cool facts about gases and air, and gain more appreciation for the Magical Element. Also, it's starting to thaw here in Minnesota so, ironically, allergies are affecting my breathing and making me hoarse. I promise you, the Vocal Fry Girl effect was unintentional, and thank you for your understanding.

10 -- The Elements Series, #1: Fire

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:16:51 +0000

The Elements series begins for real, with Fire, known to science as Plasma. Come hear about this weirdo teenager from the Dawn of Time. Or, three seconds after the dawn of time. Close enough.

9 -- The Elements Series, #0

Sun, 31 Jan 2021 04:53:42 +0000

Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. What does Science have to say about these four building blocks of the Wester magical traditions? Quite a bit actually... so much I'm gonna spend 6 -- yep, six - episodes on The Elements. This episode will be an overview, with each of the next four episodes devoted to an individual element. And for the sixth...*weirdness*. This is my first series, so let me know what you think! Thanks!

8 -- The Green Man's Superpower

Sat, 16 Jan 2021 05:58:56 +0000

We're talking about that good green stuff, chlorophyll, and the amazing trick it has of making sugar out of light. Listen how, and then go hug a plant today!

7 -- Howling at the Moon

Fri, 01 Jan 2021 23:57:55 +0000

Double-length episode this time, an Opus, about the groovy Moon. Next time you call on Her, you'll know what you are talking about! Much inspiration for magic here, too. Muah!

6.5 -- Casual Info Dump

Sat, 19 Dec 2020 02:20:18 +0000

Due to technical difficulties with this week's episode, it's clearly time for some live-action, real-time talk about stuff I normally don't go into on the podcast. HEAR! raw audio! HEAR! Lady River lose her train of thought! THRILL! to the suspense! Will a cat meow? Will the space heater cut on?? HEAR LIVE GIRLS ok one girl.

6 -- The Tiniest Circle

Fri, 04 Dec 2020 23:00:07 +0000

Think circle only happens on the full moon? Only think about cycles in connection with the seasons? There's one happening in you right now, quadrillions of times a second. Isn't that awesome? You have no idea. Come see, come see!

5 -- Panphage Pangenitor or: The Second Big Bang

Fri, 20 Nov 2020 23:00:06 +0000

Suddenly (by a geological perspective), about 500 million years ago, there was an explosion in the numbers of *kinds* of living things. It was possibly the most important event since the start of life itself. What was *that* about? "Sex and Death part 2".

4 -- On the Origin of Lineages

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 03:17:16 +0000

What does Darwin have to do with Witch Covens? Listen to this episode on what it means to be a Species to find out!

3 -- Sex and Death

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 18:25:05 +0000

The Sexual Revolution...the invention of Meiosis, that is. As always, facts + insight.

2 -- Big and Little

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 18:24:53 +0000

Are we immense fish in a teeny tiny pond, or miniscule fish in an endless pond? Tune in and find out with a fun activity you can do at home! Check out our Facebook page for instructions, or just listen and Visualize.

1 -- Foundation

Sun, 25 Oct 2020 18:24:47 +0000

Welcome Nature Worshippers and Witches! We're kicking off this podcast about science by... well, by defining "Science", and mentioning why you should care.