What happens when magic moves through podcasts, digital media, and contemporary American culture? In this livestream, I’ll be joined by Heather Freeman, artist, scholar, and creator of Magic in the United States, the award-winning PRX podcast that explores the histories, practices, and cultural tensions surrounding magic, spirituality, and esotericism in the United States. Freeman is also a Professor of Digital Media at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, where her work brings together art, technology, mythology, and occult themes.

Together, we’ll discuss how magic is represented and reimagined in the modern world, how digital technologies are reshaping occult practice, and why the study of magic can reveal so much about religion, identity, media, and power in contemporary society. We’ll also explore the thinking behind Magic in the United States, a three-season series funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and UNC Charlotte, which examines American magical, spiritual, esoteric, and marginalised religious traditions through both historical and contemporary lenses.

This conversation will be especially relevant for anyone interested in Western esotericism, contemporary witchcraft, digital occultism, and the blurred boundaries between religion, magic, and media. If you want a discussion that is both intellectually rigorous and deeply relevant to the present moment, this is one you won’t want to miss.

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00:00:00 Introduction to Heather Freeman

00:01:38 Heather’s Path into Esotericism

00:05:54 Building Magic in the United States (Podcast)

00:12:59 Podcasting and Public Scholarship

00:18:33 Accessibility and Academic Language

00:24:59 Artificial Intelligence, Art, and Magic

00:36:27 AI Ethics in Education

00:48:09 Technology and Esoteric Practice

00:55:46 Social Media and Digital Spirituality

01:01:35 Practitioner, Priestcraft & Community

01:04:32 Conferences, Future Plans, and Closing Remarks

01:09:45 How to Participate in Dr Puca’s Growing Community

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Published on April 13, 2026