Podcast Archive – Mel Mystery

Discovering the Male Mysteries Podcast Archive

This is a repository for all my “Discovering the Male Mysteries” podcasts for Queer Pagan men. The podcast ran from 2007 to 2021. In recent years, my focus has been on the Mysterious Ways Cyberzine also found on this website. In the future, I am considering hosting a YouTube channel – though it will likely be focused on workshop type content rather than being a video podcast.

My podcast will no longer be available on Podbean, ITunes, or other podcast sites. Instead, you can download legacy podcasts from this page. Please note that this page is currently under construction. Some download links do not currently work.

Note: Web links were captured at the time of the show. Some links may have changed or been removed since that time. I will try to clean these up from time-time but that isn’t a major priority.

Episode 20: After Death Communication

In this episode I talk about my personal experiences with messages and signs from a deceased friend. My experiences led me to read the book “Hello from Heaven” by Bill Guggenheim and Judy Guggenheim. While initially reluctant to read the book because the title sounded “Christian,” I decided to read the book anyway. There is no Christian agenda in the book, and the authors refer to “Heaven” as higher planes of existence after death. They did research into the topic with surveys of over many years. While admittedly, the majority of respondents were either Christian or Jewish, and their religion colors their experiences, the authors do a great job of outlining 12 distinct types of After Death Communications (ADC’s) that can be experienced from deceased loved ones. I give a summary of each type in this episode.

Show Notes:

Song clips:
“Hello (from the Other Side)
“Shut Up and Dance”
“Haunt You”

Links relevant to this show:
Hello from Heaven Book- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hello_from_Heaven!
Mel Mystery website — www.melmystery.com
Arcadia Camp Out, October 8-10, 2021 — http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/arcadia
Brotherhood by the Bog Retreat – http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/brotherhood-by-the-bog-pagan-men-s-retreat
Tomás Prower (Author of Queer Magic and Morbid Magic) – https://www.tomasprower.com/

Episode 19: Your Magickal Playlist

In this episode, I talk about using music in your magick spells, rituals, and other works. I discuss creating a magickal playlist and what types of music you might want to include. There is also a segment on the Greek Goddess of male-male love – Aphrodite Urania.

Show Notes:

Song clips:

Music (Madonna)
Venus (Bananarama)
We are a Circle (Pagan chant)

Web links:
Arcadia Gathering — www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/arcadia
Brotherhood by the Bog — www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/brotherhood-by-the-bog-pagan-men-s-retreat
Stone and Stang – www.stoneandstang.com
Between the Worlds – www.betweentheworlds.org

Episode 18: Discovering Arcadia

This episode is about the magickal land of Arcadia in ancient Greece, its theme as a metaphor for a homosexual utopia among 19th century homosexual men, and it being the name for a new gathering for gay and bi Pagan men on the East Coast.

The rustic, wooded land of Arcadia was home to Greek gods such as Zeus, Hermes, and Pan, as well as satyrs, centaurs, nymphs, and other magickal creatures. The “gay god” segment of this episode will focus on the Greek god Pan.

The Arcadia gathering is scheduled to take place October 9-12, 2019 in Cumberland, Virginia.

Show Notes:

Song clips:

Web links:
Arcadia Gathering, Virginia
Between the Worlds Gathering, Ohio
Stone and Stang Gathering, California

Episode 17B: The Conspiracy Show, Part 2

This is a continuation of the “conspiracy” episode. Part one came out in January. In this episode, I’ll be talking more about the Web Bot and possible biases in the algorithm. I’ll be exploring why conspiracy theorists are so obsessed with pedophilia. And I’ll be explaining my own system for evaluating conspiracy theories.

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Somebody’s Watching Me (Rockwell)
I’ve Got a Theory (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
2001 A Space Odyssey
Knight Rider
Bewitched
The Muppets
Scooby Doo

Web links:
Brotherhood by the Bog Pagan Men’s Retreat
Arcadia Gathering for Gay and Bi Pagan Men
Clif High’s Web Bot Website
Why Your AI might be racist
Yes Artificial Intelligence is Racist
Artificial Intelligence is Racist, sexist
Crying Pedophilia is the Oldest Propaganda Trick
Atrocity Propaganda

Episode 17A: The Conspiracy Show, Part 1

— January 2019

Today’s episode is all about conspiracy theories — why we love them, some of the more popular theories, and how right-wing conservatives are a hotbed of conspiracy theories during the Trump presidency. We’ll also explore my friend David’s wild “conspiracy” theories about North Dakota.

Part 2 will be coming out soon!

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

X-Files Theme
King of the Hill
Gravity Falls

Web links:

Brotherhood by the Bog Pagan Men’s Retreat

Arcadia Gathering for Gay and Bi Pagan Men

Between the Worlds Gathering for Gay and Bi Pagan Men

Clif High’s Web Bot Website

Episode 16: The Superhero Show

— June 2018

This episode includes segments on Pagan and magickal superhero archetypes, LGBT superheroes including characters and actors, “research” into naughty superhero sites, and why do villains so often have gay voices and mannerisms.

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Holding Out for a Hero
Smallville theme

Spiderman
Batman
Others

Web links:

Our Gods Wear Spandex — https://www.amazon.com/Our-Gods-Wear-Spandex-History/dp/1578634067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1528377897&sr=8-1&keywords=our+gods+wear+spandex
Wikipedia Page of LGBT Superheroes — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:LGBT_superheroes
Advocate List of LGBT Superheroes and Villains — https://www.advocate.com/arts-entertainment/geek/2015/07/07/52-lgbt-superheroes-and-villains
Superheroes played by LGBT Actors –https://www.thewrap.com/its-a-bird-its-a-plane-its-hollywoods-surge-of-superheroes-played-by-lgbt-actors/
Another article on superheroes played by LGBT Actors — http://www.clevver.com/lgbtq-actors-who-play-straight-superheroes-in-comic-book-movies/
Article on Gay Animated Villains — https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/5g9e4d/the-number-of-gay-animated-villains-will-surprise-you-456
Do I Sound Gay (official site) — http://www.doisoundgay.com/

Episode 15: Between the Worlds

— October 2017

Review of my visit to the Between the Worlds Gathering for Queer Pagan Men the week of September 11-15, 2017.

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Bewitched
Drumming music from the Between the Worlds last night drum circle

Web links:

Between the Worlds Gathering — http://www.betweentheworlds.org/
My campground resort project page — http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/
Brotherhood by the Bog Pagan Men’s Retreat — http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/brotherhood-by-the-bog-pagan-men-s-retreat
Mel’s Bookstore – http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/melmystery
Marscon – http://www.marscon.net/wp/

Episode 14: The Update Show

— April 2017 Retreats and Gatherings including the Hero’s Adventure, Querent, and Between the Worlds – The Gay Guy’s Guide to Werewolves book – LGBTQ Werewolf Workshop at Marscon – Mel’s Photography – Alternatives HR website — Activism – Groups including the New Order of Chaeronea and the Order of the Stone Circle – Mel’s big project – Personal updates

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

9-to-5
Do the Werebear
Green Acres

Web links:

My campground resort project page — http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/
Brotherhood by the Bog Pagan Men’s Retreat — http://www.orderofthestonecircle.org/index.php/events/annual-men-s-retreat
New Brotherhood by the Bog Pagan Men’s Retreat — http://www.olympuscampgroundresort.com/index.php/events/brotherhood-by-the-bog-pagan-men-s-retreat
Querent – https://www.querent.org/
Between the Worlds Gathering — http://www.betweentheworlds.org/
Mel’s Bookstore – http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/melmystery
Marscon – http://www.marscon.net/wp/
Mel’s Photography site – http://www.matrixwerx.com/
Alternatives HR – http://www.alternativeshr.com/
New Order of Chaeronea – http://www.melmystery.com/index.php/new-order-of-chaeronea
Order of the Stone Circle – http://www.orderofthestonecircle.org/

Episode 13B: 50 Shades of Gay - Part 2

— September 2016

Personal News – Alternatives to Traditional Heteronormative Relationships for Gay and Bi Men including living together, civil unions, serial monogamy, casual monogamy, casual non-monogamy, open relationships, open marriages, triads, polyamory, swinging, platonic relationships, Bromances, Boston marriages, BDSM liifestyles, intergenerational relationships, long-distance and Living Apart Together relationships, hiring escorts, and being happily single – Fairy Fact: The Order of Chaeronea

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Living in Sin
The House that Built Me
The Polyamory Song
Triad

Web links:

The Gay Guys Guide to Werewolves and Other Man Beasts — http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/melmystery
The Hero’s Adventure: Pagan Men’s Weekend, March 10-12, 2017 in Virginia Beach, Virginia — http://www.orderofthestonecircle.org/index.php/annual-men-s-retreat
Querent: A Queer Spirituality Conference, April 14-17, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio — https://www.querent.org/
The Order of Chaeronea — http://www.melmystery.com/index.php/new-order-of-chaeronea

Episode 13A: 50 Shades of Gay - Part 1

— October 2015

News – Review of 50 Shades of Grey movie – Is Traditional Marriage over-hyped? – Biblical Marriage is not what you think – 50 Shades of Historical Marriage

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Going to the Chapel
Single Ladies
Discovery Channel Song

Web links:

Episode 12: The Power of Names

— Spring 2015 Personal Names – Family Names – Nicknames – Craft and Magickal Names – True Names – Group Names relating to our Sexual Identity – Gay, Androphile, Queer, Uranian, etc. – Names relating to our Spiritual Path – Pagan, Wiccan, Witch, Warlock, etc. – The Names we call others – Creepy – News Update

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

The Name Game
Everybody Have Fun Tonight
Christmas is Creepy
Medieval Minstrel Music

Web links:

Coph Nia – www.cophnia.org
Gay
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay
Queers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queer
http://futureisfiction.com/blog/why-reclaim-the-word-queer/
http://www.autostraddle.com/more-than-words-queer-part-1-the-early-years-153356/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nadia-cho/being-queer-means_b_3510828.html
Androphiles
http://www.counter-currents.com/2010/10/jack-malebranches-androphilia-a-manifesto/
http://zagria.blogspot.com/2010/11/jack-donovan-1974-artist-priest.html#.VP9YH01OWmI
Uranians
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranian_poetry
Witches and Wiccans
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/wiccaandpaganismbasics/a/WWPDiffs.htm
http://www.spiritedenterprise.com/witchvswiccan.htm
http://www.thevillagewitch.co.uk/im-a-witch-not-a-wiccan/
Warlocks
http://paganwiccan.about.com/od/contemporaryissues/a/Warlock.htm
http://faerywolf.com/warlock/
http://reclaimingwarlock.blogspot.com/2013/03/why-i-reclaimed-warlock.html
Creepy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaxKR4CAKf8
http://goodmenproject.com/good-feed-blog/is-creep-shaming-real/
http://www.reddit.com/r/MensRights/comments/26l9cy/one_way_creep_shaming_hurts_men_and_women/
http://thoughtcatalog.com/johanna-de-silentio/2012/07/can-we-stop-calling-guys-creepy/
http://www.socialanxietysupport.com/forum/f24/creep-shaming-177356/

Episode 11B: Coph Nia Part 2

— November 5, 2014 A continuation of my review of Coph Nia from the standpoint of my personal journey with rites of passage and the hero’s journey as a background – Earth My Body Chant – Coph Nia Calendar Announcement – Song Dedication: Pagan Moon – Outtakes from the event

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Drumming and Chanting from Coph Nia

Web links:

Coph Nia – www.cophnia.org
Coph Nia Calendars —
https://squareup.com/market/ordo-aeternus-vovin/men-of-coph-nia-calendar
Order Aeternus Vovin – www.vovin.org
Four Quarters – www.4qf.org
Temple of Witchcraft / Steve Kenson – www.templeofwitchcraft.org
Erick Dupree – www.erickdupree.com
Gaffer that Harp Guy- www.thatharpguy.com and www.thatharpguy.bandcamp.com
Gays: Guardians of the Gates – www.menweb.org/somegay.htm
The Faggots and Their Friends between the Revolutions – http://faetopia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/FaggotsAndFriendsBetweenRevolutions.pdf

Episode 11A: Coph Nia Part 1

— September 21, 2014

Overview and review of Coph Nia and Four Quarters Campground – Kali Ma Chant led by Erick Dupree – Event Reviews from Coph Nia Attendees – Gaffer that Harp Guy performance of a love tragedy focusing on the forbidden love between a Honeysuckle and a Vine Weed

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

— October 2007 Welcome to our first show — Eros: Patron of Male Love — Gay Vampire Poetry and Jokes — How to kill a vampire / How to make a boyfriend from spare parts– Why are gay men called ‘fairies”

Show Notes:

Song and Sound clips:

Web links and Resources:

Eros: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eros
Fairies: http://whitecranejournal.com/wc01018.htm
Gay Vampires: www.queerhorror.com