Explore every episode of the podcast The Tarot Podcast with T. Susan Chang
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Episode 74: The Queen of Wands in Real Life | 04 Nov 2026 | 00:26:50 | |
Tarot IRL is back with our next court card! In this episode, we examine how the steamy and alluring Queen of Wands shows up in the lives of regular people like you and me. With her sunflower in one hand, her magic wand in the other, and her iconic black cat at her feet, the Queen of Wands is the picture of self-assurance. She’s a people person, a firestarter, a kitchen witch and sometimes, a diva. What will she do with the awesome creative potential of the Ace of Wands?! When you draw the Queen of Wands, look out for the following themes:
up in the lives of regular people like you and me. With his prancing steed, flaming helmet and salamander-bedecked surcoat, our Knight of Wands is heading places. His fit is checked, his hair is did, his look is maxxed—and he’s off on his next adventure just as soon as he takes one last selfie. What will he do with the awesome creative potential of the Ace of Wands?! When you draw the Knight of Wands, look out for the following themes:
✨ To share your stories about the King of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! . You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Links for this episode:
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| Episode 73: Five Questions with the Vampire's Tale Tarot + Sasha Graham | 28 Oct 2026 | 00:24:01 | |
It’s spooky season! and our featured deck this week is dark, mysterious, and just released: The Vampire’s Tale Tarot, created by Sasha Graham and illustrated by Abigail Larson. It features a vampire heroine named Octavia, whose adventure of self-discovery and undead liberation! unfolds through the 22 major arcana. If you’re a fan of supernatural beings, occult phenomena, and the “creepy-cozy,” I bet you’ll want to sink your teeth into this one! As always, there’s a patron reading using the deck at the end of the episode. If you yourself would like to submit a question for a reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! (https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then! Sasha Graham is a world-renowned tarot expert, bestselling author, award winning tarot deck creator, and indie horror actress who teaches and lectures around the globe. Her work has been translated into more than 12 languages and she is the author of 13 books and 4 tarot decks including 365 Tarot Spreads, Llewellyn’s Complete Book of the Rider Waite Smith Tarot, Tarot of the Witch’s Garden, Dark Wood Tarot and Vampire’s Tale Tarot. Graham's filmography includes over a dozen 90's horror flicks and recently Side Effect May Vary, Screamwalkers, and Trivial. Sasha is the host/creator of a live, creepy story event and podcast called Sasha Graham's Ghost Stories by the Fire and is the writer and performer of Sasha Graham's Ghost Stories and Tarot which just premiered with a full run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Links for this episode:
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| Episode 72: Tarot Mediumship, with Jenna Matlin | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:29:07 | |
Have you ever wondered if you could communicate with the dead? One answer: Maybe, maybe not, but your cards certainly can! As tarot readers, we know our cards can do a lot of spooky things. My guest this week, Jenna Matlin, believes that a tarot deck is a naturally mediumistic tool; an interface between realms. In her new book, The Tarot Book of the Dead (Weiser 2026), she offers a framework for anyone to use the cards to communicate with spirit, whether or not you think you’re psychically gifted. How does this work? How do we adjust our readings to accommodate messages from Elsewhere? Listen and find out! This week’s bonus post: “The Heralds” Spread – Jenna walks us through an example spread for sharing essential truths with the ead.
Jenna Matlin holds an M.S. in Organizational Psychology and B.A. in Anthropology, with end-of-life doula training through INELDA and completed training in psychedelic integration support. Named Philadelphia Magazine’s Spiritual Guru of 2019, her book, Will You Give Me a Reading? received the 2023 COVR Silver Visionary Award. Since 2012, she has maintained a full-time tarot practice, known for highly intuitive and innovative techniques. Her revolutionary approach to tarot mediumship specifically helps clients navigate grief, death, and communication with the dead. Based in Chapel Hill, NC, she teaches internationally and speaks at conferences. Learn more at www.jennamatlin.com. Links for this show
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| Episode 71: The Cards Are Always Right | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:21:04 | |
“Always.” That’s a big word. And it’s a bold move to say “The Cards are Always Right.”. But as tarot readers, it’s a creed we embrace. So what do we do when our cards fall silent? Where does our belief fall short. and what do we do about it? Host T. Susan gets into it in this solo show. Pick up some reasons to believe, some causes for skepticism, and some helpful suggestions as to WHAT to do and what NOT to do when the cards don’t add up. This week’s Patreon bonus content: Have *you* drawn a card that’s got you stumped? Bring it to the Tarot Podcast for a second opinion!
Links for this show:
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| Episode 70: Rider Waite Smith vs. Thoth, with Joe Monteleone | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:32:11 | |
In today’s episode, we’re talking about the two most popular tarot decks in the world: Rider Waite Smith and Thoth. What makes these two decks so influential? What do they have in common, and how are they different? And how do you choose which one to take with you on your own tarot journey?! My guest is Joe Monteleone, whose channel on YouTube has a devoted following on YouTube; he’s also the founder of Tarot Mysticism Academy. Joe is particularly known for his work with the Thoth Tarot, featured in his recently published book, Tarot Mysticism (Llewellyn, 2025)
This week’s bonus content: Take the poll! on the Pepsi and Coke of the tarot world. Are you a Thoth nerd? Is RWS your ride-or-die? Curious about one or the other? I want to know!
About Joe Monteleone Described by The Huffington Post as a "one-man band of magical-thinking-made-reality," Joe Monteleone is a tarot master teacher, modern mystic, best-selling author, and content-creator with over 80,000 YouTube subscribers. He is the founder of the Tarot Mysticism Academy, where he teaches tarot and mysticism as a psycho-spiritual framework rooted in the perennial philosophy, bridging Western Esotericism and Eastern Mysticism into a path of divination, self-awareness, personal growth, and transpersonal/spiritual awakening. He is the author of the award-winning Tarot Mysticism: The Psycho-Spiritual Technology of the Thoth Tarot and the #1 Bestseller Tarot Mysticism: Visual Primer. Joe has taught, performed, and written for various institutions and platforms, including The Readers Studio, World Divination Association, Tarot Readers’ Academy, Anahata’s Purpose, Esotoracle Magazine, and the New York Pagan Pride Festival to name a few. Before becoming a teacher, Joe was a professional dancer and choreographer who created and toured multimedia dance works based on mystical philosophy. He continues to provide free resources in tarot and spiritual education, including authoring many free e-books.
Links for this episode:
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| Episode 69: Active Imagination & the Tarot, with Mariana Louis | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:26:19 | |
Tarot readers, it’s long been observed, have a particular affinity for Jungian thought, probably because Carl Jung’s theories of archetype, synchronicity, and personality offer us such rich and thought provoking frameworks for thinking about what’s going on in a tarot reading. This week’s episode features the first of a series of conversations with Mariana Louis, whose “archetypal tarot” approach applies Jungian thought to the practice of tarot, allowing readers a way to engage deeply with the symbolic content of tarot imagery. In this episode, we talk about the Jungian practice of active imagination, and how it can extend our dialogue with the cards.
This week’s bonus content!: Host T. Susan and Tarot Podcast video producer Randy take the active imagination train ride with a mystery card! Find out which one—and what happened!—in this week’s Patreon post for members at https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast. Mariana Louis is a professional tarot counselor, scholar, and creator of Persephone's Sister, a platform for psycho-spiritual education and guidance. After stumbling upon Jung's The Undiscovered Self in her grandfather's attic library, Mariana began her study of depth psychology and the archetypal language of the soul. This led her to pursue a degree in Western Intellectual Traditions at the CUNY Graduate Center where she focused on archetypal perspectives in the transformation of Western thought. Marrying this scholarship with her expertise in the tarot Mariana formulated the archetypal tarot approach, which she teaches in the Archetypal Tarot School and other programs. Mariana is the author of Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul: Exploring the Archetypal Mirrors of the Psyche, as well as the co-host of the Soror Mystica podcast and a faculty member at the Jung Archademy. Links for this show:
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| Episode 68: The Knight of Wands in Real Life | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:28:06 | |
Tarot IRL is back, with our next court card! In this episode, we examine how the charismatic and charming Knight of Wands shows up in the lives of regular people like you and me. With his prancing steed, flaming helmet and salamander-bedecked surcoat, our Knight of Wands is heading places. His fit is checked, his hair is did, his look is maxxed—and he’s off on his next adventure just as soon as he takes one last selfie. What will he do with the awesome creative potential of the Ace of Wands?! When you draw the Knight of Wands, look out for the following themes:
✨ To share your stories about the Queen of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast!. You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Links for this episode:
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊
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| Episode 67: How Do I Revive My Tarot Practice? with Barbara Moore | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:13:54 | |
Whether you’ve been reading for a month or a decade, once in a while we can get kind of stuck in our tarot practice. Fortunately, Barbara Moore is here to tell us all about how to revive a faltering tarot practice. In this brief episode, Barbara walks us through a variety of ways you can jump-start your cards, find your inner oracle, get the riffle back in your shuffle. Our bonus for patrons this week? How to find a Tarot study buddy. Links for this episode:
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| Episode 66: The Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Spread | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:19:59 | |
The Tarot Podcast is sharing the secret sauce this week! it’s the Choose-Your-Own-Adventure spread, my hands-down favorite form of narrative problem-solving. Choose your starting point and endpoint—and then let Fate handpick three magical tasks to accomplish on your personal heroic journey! In this week’s bonus post: some tips to help you start and end your journey. Available to all paid Patreon members! Links for this episode
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| Episode 65: Grounding 101 for Tarot Readers with Ethony Dawn | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:15:16 | |
The effervescent Ethony Dawn returns to the show this week! to talk about an energy practice that’s really crucial for tarot readers: grounding. When you work with tarot, you’re reaching out with your subtle senses and making yourself alive to synchronicities and wonders. Groovy! But working these delicate antennae in extended client sessions can leave you feeling woozy, faint, and disconnected. In this episode, we talk about how you can reconnect with the Earth and re-anchor yourself in good ol’ reality. Ethony is an author, tarot reader, tarot teacher, and High Priestess. She’s the author of Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader, Tarot Grimoire, and Your Tarot Court (Llewellyn) and created several decks, including Luminous Flow Tarot, Cosmic Wisdom Tarot, Modern Love Tarot, and Awakened Soul Oracle. As Headmistress of the Tarot Readers Academy, she teaches Tarot worldwide. Ethony is an ’80s child who loves Halloween, Care Bears, and the ocean.
Links for this show:
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| Episode 64: Five Questions with Mark Ryan, John Matthews + the Wildwood Tarot | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:37:04 | |
This week, the Tarot Podcast brings you one of the best-selling tarot decks of all time: the Wildwood Tarot. Creators Mark Ryan and John Matthews joined me to discuss the roots of this deck in pre-Celtic mythology, earth-based shamanism, and the lore of Sherwood Forest. (Artist Will Worthington was unfortunately unavailable for the interview.). Anchored to the Wheel of the Year and the earth’s seasonal cycles, the Wildwood Tarot has proven to hold enduring appeal for pagan practitioners and mainstream readers alike.
As always, there’s a patron reading using the deck at the end of the episode. If you yourself would like to submit a question for a reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then! This week’s Patreon bonus content includes additional readings AND the Bow Spread from the Wildwood guidebook.
Mark Ryan (b. 1956) is an English actor, singer, author, and action director whose career spans West End musicals, television, and film. He's best known to mainstream audiences as the voice of Bumblebee, Jetfire, and Lockdown across the Transformers franchise, and for his iconic portrayal of Nasir in Robin of Sherwood and Mr. Gates in Black Sails, alongside work as a swordmaster and fight director on films like King Arthur and First Knight. Before entertainment, he served with British Army Intelligence and Special Forces, later working as a licensed US private investigator (as described in his 2015 autobiography, Hold Fast). Ryan's most enduring contribution to tarot is the Greenwood Tarot, created with artist Chesca Potter, which he later reworked with John Matthews and illustrator Will Worthington into the internationally bestselling Wildwood Tarot, followed by a 2017 companion workbook, Wild Magic. John Matthews, dubbed "Oxford's answer to all things mythic," has worked as an independent scholar since 1980, building a lifetime study of Arthurian legend and, more recently, the history of piracy, across a publication list topping 200 titles — among them Pirates, a number-one New York Times bestseller for 22 weeks in 18 languages. He has advised on major films including King Arthur, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Prince of Persia, and won a BAFTA for the King Arthur education DVD. His tarot work began with the Arthurian Tarot, devised with Caitlin Matthews and now some 150,000 copies deep across three editions. He went on to create the best-selling Wildwood Tarot with Mark Ryan, along with The Shaman's Oracle, The Camelot Oracle, The Lost Tarot of Nostradamus, and The Sherlock Holmes Tarot. His latest publications include The Sleeping Beauty Oracle, The Circle of the Sidhe, and Merlin's Mirror Oracle.
Links for this show:
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| Episode 63: The Page of Wands in Real Life | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:24:12 | |
Tarot IRL is back, with our very first court card! In this episode, we examine how the energetic and enthusiastic Page of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary folks. In her hand, the Page holds the Ace of Wands—our natural force, our initiative, our motivation. As the rank representing beginning in the suit representing beginning, she’s the embodiment of beginner mind. She represents our zest for life, our willingness to try, the latest new thing. What can’t she do?! When you draw the Page of Wands, look out for the following themes:
✨ To share your stories about the Knight of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. Links for this episode:
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| Episode 62: Five Questions with Leeza Robertson, Eugene Smith + the Animal Totem Tarot | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:34:17 | |
Animal decks are commonplace in the world of tarot, but to my mind the very finest of them is the Animal Totem Tarot, published in 2016 by author Leeza Robertson and artist Eugene Smith. In our conversation, the creators share the story behind Leeza’s meticulously-conceived animal correspondences and Eugene’s exquisite inkwork, which came together in an unforgettable 78-piece work of art.. As always, there’s a patron reading using the deck, at the end of the episode. If you'd like to see more of the Animal Totem Tarot in action, we have a few more readings in this week's Patreon bonus content. (If you’d like to submit a question for a reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! at https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast. You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then!)
Leeza Robertson is an international bestselling author with Llewellyn Worldwide. She is a girl from the Aussie bush living her best life in Las Vegas, Nevada, with her wife. When she is not writing books or creating decks, she is helping other writers bring their dream of publishing into reality. Eugene Smith is an illustrator born and raised in California now residing in Chicago, IL. He decided all that time spent doodling in notebooks and scribbling on walls should be put to good use and so he pursued a BFA in painting and drawing from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. His work has appeared in books, editorials, tarot card decks, and educational graphic novels. He lives with his lovely wife, two children, and an odd dog. Links for this show:
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| Episode 61: Interoception—the Body Reads Tarot, with Siddharth Ramakrishnan | 05 Aug 2026 | 00:22:46 | |
Neurobiologist and tarot reader Siddharth Ramakrishnan returns to the Tarot Podcast to talk about interoception—your awareness of what’s going on inside your own body. When we’re doing a tarot reading, what’s happening in this internal sensor system? How do the things we’re hearing from our body affect what we see in the cards and say to our querents? For more Siddharth, and more on the intersection of brain biology and divination, check out this week’s bonus content, where Siddharth and I speculate about what’s going on neurologically when you’re trying to detect whether your tarot reader is a fraud! Siddharth Ramakrishnan, PhD, is a neuroscientist, artist, and educator. He is the Chair of Neuroscience and Professor of Biology at the University of Puget Sound and a recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award. His research spans developmental biology, neuroendocrinology and neuroethics. A Fellow of the UCLA Art|Sci center, his collaborations with artists have led to exhibitions and documentaries that blend the worlds of art and science highlighting topics like Hox genes, animal umwelts and biomimicry. An avid Tarot reader, he has designed and created the NeuroTarot deck based on the major arcana of Tarot and infused with neuroscience. He was the keynote speaker at NWTS 2023, StaarCon 2025, the UCLA Art Sci Center, and a panelist at the Masters of Tarot workshop (2023) with Mary K. Greer at Omega, Rhinebeck NY. In addition he has been featured at various scientific conferences, art museums and tarot workshops. His book "The Neuroscience of Tarot", is out with Llewellyn Worldwide. "The Neuroscience of Magic" will be out in 2026! Instagram/BlueSky/Threads: @siddbits Youtube: @brainmystic Email: neurotarot@gmail.com website: www.brainmystic.com
Links for this show:
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| Episode 60: Intro to Court Cards | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:27:24 | |
It is commonly said that court cards are the hardest cards to interpret. Today, we take on these Royal Pains in the A** and try to make some sense of them. When you’re done listening, you’ll have a toolbox full of ways to interpret courts. But remember, above all, court cards are just people! For this week’s bonus post, I’m asking folks to tell me a story about a court card using its associated minor cards! Send yours before 7/31/26 and I’ll thank you with a little surprise gift! Links for this episode:
Court Card reference books
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| Episode 59: "Tarot! Renaissance Symbols, Modern Visions" at the Morgan Library | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:41:19 | |
Tarot on the Road is back! This week, the Tarot Podcast heads out to the Morgan Library in New York City for their “Tarot! Renaissance Symbols, Modern Visions” show. The exhibit is dazzling to look at, but it also gives you a sense of how tarot morphed and shifted in form over the centuries. In my conversation with the three organizers responsible for the exhibit, you’ll see how the rich, thoughtful narrative they organized around tarot captures the imagination and closely follows the trajectory of tarot from a luxury object made an artisanal workshop in 15th century Italy to becoming a contemporary global phenomenon. If you just can’t possibly make it New York, you can see many of the featured images both in the video version of this podcast and in the Morgan’s own incredible exhibit catalogue, which is lavishly illustrated and full of fascinating essays on the cultural history of tarot (yes! you do need one more book!). Links for this episode:
More tarot history episodes:
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| Episode 58: Tarot Myths with Ethony Dawn | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:30:51 | |
If you’re tarot-curious, you’ve probably heard some of the myths around tarot – how you’re supposed to get your first deck, what kind of abilities you have to have, what kind of power the cards have, even how to handle or not handle your cards. But what do REAL tarot readers think about some of these myths? Cardfluencer Ethony Dawn and I pull back the curtain on what tarot actually looks like! in contemporary practice. Ethony is an author, tarot reader, tarot teacher, and High Priestess. She’s the author of Become an Exceptional Tarot Reader, Tarot Grimoire, and Your Tarot Court (Llewellyn) and created several decks, including Luminous Flow Tarot, Cosmic Wisdom Tarot, Modern Love Tarot, and Awakened Soul Oracle. As Headmistress of the Tarot Readers Academy, she teaches Tarot worldwide. Ethony is an ’80s child who loves Halloween, Care Bears, and the ocean. Links for this show:
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| Episode 57: So You're Getting a Tarot Reading... | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:19:35 | |
Getting a tarot reading? How can you make sure you have the most meaningful experience possible? How do you protect yourself against “querent remorse”? In this week’s show, host T. Susan offers tips and caveats: how to prepare for a reading, what to expect during a reading, and what to do after a reading. (This one’s intended especially for those who are seeking out readings, but it’s also generally applicable for anyone who consults the cards for themselves.) For examples of great questions you can ask a tarot reader, be sure to check out this week’s bonus content! Links for this show:
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| Episode 56: Tarot Museum Belgium | 30 Jun 2026 | 00:22:20 | |
It’s Tarot On the Road! This week, the Tarot Podcast visits the Tarot Museum Belgium, where proprietor Guido Gillabel shows us what 40 years of pure tarot obsession can look like. If you find yourself somewhere between Brussels and Antwerp, be sure to get in touch with Guido for a tour. The audio and video versions of this episode are distinct. In the audio version, you’ll hear my interview with Guido about how he became a tarot reader and teacher and how the Museum got started in the Amsterdam occult scene of the late 1970’s and early 80’s. In the video version, Guido shows off his collection of historic tarot artifacts, tarot novelties and contemporary decks from all over the world.
Links for this episode:
***Tarot Museum Belgium visits are by appointment. Contact Guido directly through his website or e-mail.***
This week’s bonus content:
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| Episode 55: Tarot and the Predictive Brain, with Siddharth Ramakrishnan | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:15:58 | |
In today’s show, the Tarot Podcast veers off the beaten path and turns to science! for an explanation of how prediction works. My guest is Siddharth Ramakrishnan, a neuroscientist who also practices tarot. He’s also a terrific explainer of brain biology for those of us without advanced degrees in the sciences. How has evolution shaped our perception of the future? What role does our brain play in decoding what’s to come? Join us for some facts, some educated guesses, and some wild speculation! Siddharth Ramakrishnan, Ph.D., is a neuroscientist, artist, and educator. He is the Chair of Neuroscience and Professor of Biology at the University of Puget Sound and a recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award. His research spans developmental biology, neuroendocrinology and neuroethics. A Fellow of the UCLA Art|Sci center, his collaborations with artists have led to exhibitions and documentaries that blend the worlds of art and science highlighting topics like Hox genes, animal umwelts and biomimicry. An avid Tarot reader, he has designed and created the NeuroTarot deck based on the major arcana of Tarot and infused with neuroscience. He was the keynote speaker at NWTS 2023, StaarCon 2025, the UCLA Art Sci Center, and a panelist at the Masters of Tarot workshop (2023) with Mary K. Greer at Omega, Rhinebeck NY. In addition he has been featured at various scientific conferences, art museums and tarot workshops. His book "The Neuroscience of Tarot", is out with Llewellyn Worldwide. "The Neuroscience of Magic" will be out in 2026!
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| Episode 54: The Tarot Readers of Amsterdam | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:31:02 | |
For this week’s episode, we present something completely different for the Tarot Podcast! We recently traveled to Amsterdam and decided to do an episode on the tarot scene there. We interviewed three readers: Trippy, Melanie Webb, and Giulia Castagna. Trippy and Melanie are readers at the Embassy of the Free Mind, a Hermetic library in the heart of Amsterdam. Both Trippy and Melanie are Jungian-influenced archetypal tarot readers, and you can visit them on Thursdays and Fridays at the Embassy. Our third interviewee, Giulia Castagna, is an Italian tarot reader and astrologer who is based in Amsterdam. She currently gives readings at Black Moon Botanica, in the charming Spiegelgracht neighborhood. Stick around for the end of show! where Trippi and Melanie do readings for me—and I do one reading in return. ALSO: Be sure to catch this week’s Patreon bonus content, a video short of a terrific collection of tarot decks housed in Fabula Rosa, in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam. The owner, David Schors, kindly permitted us to look around and examine some very unusual and beautiful decks he’s acquired over the years.
Giulia Castagna
Melanie Webb Melanie takes her audience into a world that is not usually seen, but deeply felt — a place suspended between dream and reality. Having grown up with Tarot cards, she developed an intuitive and playful connection to visual language from an early age. During her twelve years at the Academy for Applied Astrology in Amstelveen, she developed a strong interest in the relationship between Jungian psychology and Western astrology. Tarot formed an additional module within this astrological and Jungian curriculum, allowing her to interpret the cards through the archetypal frameworks and psychological theories of Carl Jung. With her Tarot cards, she not only reads what lies beyond but also unpacks the signs that are present all around you. A reading with Melanie allows you to pause, take a breath, and look again: at yourself, the moment, and everything that moves beneath the surface. In her sessions you can expect imagery, intuition, and silence to come together. A session with Melanie allows you to sink into the moment and gain a truly unique perspective. Trippy Trippy has been reading Tarot for more than thirty years. Her connection with the cards began in childhood, shaped by early mystical experiences that opened her sensitivity to the unseen. For the past nine years she has read regularly for Thuishaven, where clients often describe her readings as clarifying, grounding, and deeply supportive. Her work blends intuitive insight with years of exploration in esoteric and meditative traditions, including the Tarot study with Kenton Knepper on Meditations on the Tarot, as well as her ongoing Jungian exploration inspired by the works of Marie-Louise von Franz. Trippy’s style is warm, compassionate, and direct. She aims to help people reconnect with their inner guidance and leave each session with a renewed sense of clarity and empowerment.
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| Episode 53: How Do I Care for My Cards? with Barbara Moore | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:24:57 | |
In today’s episode, we take on a totally practical question for both new and experienced tarot readers: How do I take care of my tarot cards? The care and maintenance of a metaphysical object is just different from the way you deal with your ordinary household items. Whether or not you feel your cards are actually sentient (and some people do!) they deserve special consideration. And Tarot Podcast favorite Barbara Moore is back! to walk us through some of the tarot community’s most common physical, metaphysical, and ritual practices around card care.
Barbara Moore (Saint Paul, MN) has been in love with tarot for over thirty-five years. She has shuffled her cards and taught tarot all over the world. Now she embraces her Hermit self by writing books and creating decks. Her Steampunk Tarot, Good Fortune Tarot, and Trick or Treat Tarot are among her favorites.
Links for this episode:
https://www.amazon.com/Living-Tarot-Connecting-Everyday-Readings/dp/0738772259 https://tsusanchang.com/class
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| Episode 52: Jumpers, Stalkers, and Holdouts—Cards with an ATTITUDE! | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:22:27 | |
It’s the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of the Tarot Podcast! and have I got a show for you! Today we’re having a look at three Unexplained Card Phenomena that every tarot reader faces at some point or another. They are:
What do they MEAN? What message is your jumper card trying to send you? WHY are you getting that stalker card again and again? And why are your holdouts keeping their distance? Discover the secrets that these attention-seeking cards are trying to share! Also: the miracle of card tracking! To gain access to T. Susan’s card tracking template, sign up as a member at the Fortuneteller level www. patreon.com/thetarotpodcast/membership . (It’s also available in the Living Tarot online class www.tsusanchang.com/class .)
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| Episode 51: Five Questions with M. M. Meleen + the Tabula Mundi Tarot | 27 May 2026 | 00:44:46 | |
The tarot deck known as the Tabula Mundi is a modern tarot masterpiece, a memory palace, and a love song to esoteric tarot. Its creator, M. M. Meleen, is known for her work producing Thoth-inspired cards, as well as for co-hosting the Fortune’s Wheelhouse esoteric tarot podcast with me. In today’s show, we explore the interlocking astrological intricacies of the Tabula Mundi, and its origin story. And we have a close look at the Tabula Mundi Devil card, in all its muscular blue-skinned glory. As always, there’s a patron reading, using the deck, at the end of the episode. We also have a few more readings, offered as Patreon bonus content for the week. If you’d like to submit a question for a reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then! M. M. Meleen is the artist and creative force behind four modern esoteric tarot decks: Tabula Mundi Tarot, Rosetta Tarot, Pharos Tarot, and the latest work of talismanic and decan magic, Telos Tarot of 777. She is the author of Book M: Liber Mundi, Book of Seshet, Spectrum Fari, and Scions of 777: Vol. I, Six-and Thirty Decans, and Vol. II, Forty-two Truths. She also co-hosted and co-created the Fortune's Wheelhouse tarot podcast, and co-authored Tarot Deciphered, both with T. Susan Chang. For info on past, present, and future works of love and will visit tabulamundi.com. The decks and the books can be found at www.tarotcart.com.
Links for this episode:
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| Episode 50: The 10 of Wands in Real Life | 20 May 2026 | 00:23:50 | |
Tarot IRL is back! with the final installment of our numeric minors in the Wands suit. In this episode, we examine how the mighty—but exhausting!—10 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary folks. It could be called the Triumph of the Will, capable of channeling human ambition into extraordinary achievement and astounding brutality. The Lord of Oppression will demand everything you have, and more. What you make of that crushing pressure, however, is up to you. When you draw the 10 of Wands, look out for the following themes:
For decan basics and examples, see episode 39 (Decan Basics) and 40 (Decan Deep Dive) with Mary Greer: ✨To share your stories about the Page of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. More resources:
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 49: How to Read the Tarot de Marseille, with Sherryl Smith | 13 May 2026 | 00:32:14 | |
In Episode 48, the tarot historian and independent scholar Sherryl Smith gave us an introduction to the classic European deck known as the Tarot de Marseille, or TdM. In this episode, our focus is how to read with these historic cards—which many modern tarot readers find intimidating. Sherryl demystifies the ins and outs of the TdM, explaining why some readers find the deck downright liberating. Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a demonstration reading with the TdM! Bonus TdM readings—and full graphics for the episode—can be found on our Patreon website (www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). If you’d like to submit a question for a future reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! (https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question in advance. Sherryl Smith’s tarot journey began over 50 years ago when she saw David Palladini’s Aquarian deck in a bookstore and instantly recognized an important turning point in her life. She has been studying the history of tarot and reading with historic decks for 25 years. Her website Tarot-Heritage.com tells the story of tarot’s 600-year history. The Cartomancy section of the website has everything you need to get started reading with historic decks like the Tarot de Marseille Links for this episode:
Sherryl’s TdM Resources: Books
Where to purchase decks in the US US Games: https://www.usgamesinc.com/?target=search&mode=search&substring=marseille&including=all
Llewellyn.com: https://www.llewellyn.com/browse_category.php?start=0&sort_by=&product_category_id=232
Unique and whimsical decks:
Where to purchase decks in Europe
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| Episode 48: What is the Tarot de Marseille? with Sherryl Smith | 05 May 2026 | 00:30:49 | |
The Rider Waite Smith and Thoth tarot decks may be the most recognized decks in the English-speaking world. But it is the Tarot de Marseille, known in tarot circles as the TdM, that has the furthest intercontinental reach and the longest history. Even today, it is the deck most widely used in European countries. This week, tarot historian and independent scholar Sherryl Smith takes us on a journey through the origins and idiosyncrasies of the TdM. Next week, we’ll have a discussion of how to actually use the TdM! which intimidates many readers with its cryptic woodcut imagery and non-scenic pips. Be sure to listen through to the end of the episode for a demonstration reading with the TdM! Bonus TdM readings can be found on our Patreon website (www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast), and we will have another set of readings to go with next week’s episode. If you’d like to submit a question for a future reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! (https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then! All images for this episode can be viewed on Patreon, or on the YouTube version of the show. Sherryl Smith’s tarot journey began over 50 years ago when she saw David Palladini’s Aquarian deck in a bookstore and instantly recognized an important turning point in her life. She has been studying the history of tarot and reading with historic decks for 25 years. Her website Tarot-Heritage.com tells the story of tarot’s 600-year history. The Cartomancy section of the website has everything you need to get started reading with historic decks like the Tarot de Marseille Links for this episode:
Sherryl’s TdM Resources: Books
Where to purchase decks in the US US Games: https://www.usgamesinc.com/?target=search&mode=search&substring=marseille&including=all
Llewellyn.com: https://www.llewellyn.com/browse_category.php?start=0&sort_by=&product_category_id=232
Unique and whimsical decks:
Where to purchase decks in Europe
Yves Reynaud of Marseille makes facsimiles of historic Tarot de Marseille decks he finds in museums. The production quality and price are designed for the average card reader.
Marco Benedetti of Rome has a Facebook page—no website. Handcrafted decks at reasonable prices. Pierre Madenié 1709 is a favorite.
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| Episode 47: An Artomancy Reading with Laetitia Barbier | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:17:46 | |
In this week’s Tarot Podcast episode, we welcome back goth tarot queen Laetitia Barbier to boldly engage! in a special kind of divination devised by Laetitia herself: ARTOMANCY!. Together, Laeti and I do an on-the-spot artomancy reading on a listener-submitted question. If the technique intrigues you, you can book your own custom artomancy reading with Laetitia at her website! (Links below).
For our bonus content this week, check out my final conversation with Laetitia , on the question of whether tarot art is inherently magical. You can check that out by becoming a paid Patreon member, thereby unlocking all our bonus content, the chance to submit a question when we have guest readings, and countless other perks! https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast/membership.
French-born Laetitia Barbier is an independent scholar, as well as a professional tarot reader and teacher. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art History from La Sorbonne University Paris in 2009. Laetitia has worked with Morbid Anatomy from 2012 to 2024 as a programming director, head librarian, and occasional curator. Her book Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive was published in 2021 with a foreword by Rachel Pollack. Along with her friend Lou Benesch, she’s the co-creator of the Camena Tarot. As a writer and scholar, she has the privilege of collaborating with the iconic French maître-cartier Grimaud, notably on the exquisite re-release of their 1930s Tarot de Marseille and Belline Oracle. Laetitia has lectured, taught and read cards for various cultural institutions, such as Greenwood Cemetery, Artyard, Fotografiska NY, the College of Psychic Studies in London or the New York Public Library. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
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| Episode 46: Priming the Pump (the tarot technique you never knew you needed) | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:13:46 | |
In this week’s Try This at Home! segment, host T. Susan shares a powerful technique for reliably getting answers from your cards. Learn it in 5 seconds, apply it in 5 minutes, and enjoy the benefits for the rest of your life as a tarot reader! Give ‘priming the pump’ a try the next time you read for yourself or someone else—and let me know how it worked for you! Write to me on the Tarot Podcast Discord server or dm me on Patreon if you’re a Patreon member. Or, you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com. .
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| Episode 45: Why are People Afraid of Tarot? with Barbara Moore | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:19:36 | |
Not everyone, believe it or not, falls in love with the cards at first sight! In fact, many of us experience a light shudder, even a hint of fear! upon our first encounter with tarot. What’s up with that? What’s the reasoning behind tarot-phobia? My wise and witty editor, Barbara Moore, shares her thoughts on the subject in this week’s episode. Barbara Moore (Saint Paul, MN) has been in love with tarot for over thirty-five years. She has shuffled her cards and taught tarot all over the world. Now she embraces her Hermit self by writing books and creating decks. Her Steampunk Tarot, Good Fortune Tarot, and Trick or Treat Tarot are among her favorites. Links for this episode:
…and just a few of Barbara’s many works:
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| Episode 44: Five Questions with Kat Black + the Golden Tarot | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:31:30 | |
Multimedia artist Kat Black joins me to share the backstory of a tarot community favorite, the Golden Tarot (first published in 2003). Long before today’s indie deck culture existed, fans launched the Golden Tarot into print, making its blend of International Gothic style and readable scenic minors an instant favorite for readers and collectors alike. As always, there’s a patron reading! using the deck, at the end of the episode. We also have a few more readings, offered as Patreon bonus content for the week. If you’d like to submit a question for a reading on the Tarot Podcast, sign up as a paid member! (https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). You’ll find out when readings are happening on Patreon or Discord and be able to share your question then! Kat Black has been an artist and performer for over twenty years using a wide variety of media. She exhibited as a painter before moving into digital art forms. Her main art forms are currently video projection, interactive installation and digital collage. Her first commercial tarot deck, Golden Tarot, was released in 2004 using early graphics software to collage together elements of European artwork from the International Gothic era. Kat was born and currently resides in Australia, although she has also lived in the US and the UK. In collaboration with her partner Jasper Cook, she creates video projection and public art as VJzoo.
Links for this episode:
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| Episode 43: The 9 of Wands in Real Life | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:18:27 | |
Tarot IRL is back! in a slightly more streamlined format. (You can still read the full text of examples in the video version in YouTube, if you wish.) In this episode, we examine how the gritty, resolute 9 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary folks. If it could speak, this card would say, What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger! Our wounded warrior, the Lord of Strength, has seen his share. Your stories showcase his resilience...and his scars. When you draw the 9 of Wands, look out for the following themes:
For decan basics and examples, see episode 39 (Decan Basics) and 40 (Decan Deep Dive) with Mary Greer. _______________________________________ ✨ Take the Tarot IRL poll! Vote on which IRL cards – Wands courts or numeric Cups – should come after the 10 of Wands!: ✨To share your stories about the 10 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. More resources:
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 42: Is It Intuition or Projection? with Mat Auryn | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:25:13 | |
This week my psychic friend, the author Mat Auryn, returns to the show to talk about a perennially interesting topic for tarot readers, which is: the difference between intuition and projection. When you’re doing a reading for someone else, how do you know if what you’re interpreting is true, useful information, or just something from your own bag of tricks? You might want to revisit Episode 26, where Mat and I talked about whether you need to be psychic to read tarot. And we also have some fantastic bonus content this week you’ll want to check out—the video from the last part of my conversation with Mat, where we discuss psychic hygiene and how to keep yourself clean and clear when you’re exposing yourself to other people’s psychic energies. That’s at https://patreon.com/thetarotpodcast. One quick note: I apologize for my side of the audio. My software accessed the wrong mic when we were recording and I’ve tried to clean it up some. But it’s not quite the same quality you’re used to. Mat, however, sounds great!
Mat Auryn is an influential author and teacher in occultism and witchcraft. His books Psychic Witch, Mastering Magick, and The Psychic Art of Tarot offer practical insights into psychic and magickal practices. He also co-authored Pisces Witch with Ivo Dominguez, Jr. Mat’s work draws from various spiritual and magickal traditions he’s studied and trained in, aiming to synthesize them in accessible and practical ways. Beyond writing, Mat worked for many years as a professional psychic and tarot reader in Salem, Massachusetts, as well as his own private practice. He is on the faculty at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, and co-hosts THE CIRCLE IS podCAST with actress Rachel True. Residing in California’s Bay Area, he co-owns Datura Trading Co. and Modern Witch University. You can find out more information about Mat on his website at www.Auryn.com
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| Episode 41: How to do a Decan Walk | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:19:05 | |
The grand finale! of our series on decans + tarot, just in time for Spring Equinox on March 20th. Here are my answers to ALL your burning questions: What is a decan walk? Why do we do them? And – most important of all: How do I start my own? Includes loads of examples from current practitioners of the modern decan walk – including your host! Let me know how you’re walking this year! (Write me via the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com).
Must-have Decan Resources!
End credits music: “Time Trades,” by Jeffrey Lewis | |||
| Episode 40: Decan Deep Dive, with Mary K. Greer | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:45:48 | |
It’s week 2 of our three-week series on decans! Mary Greer and I are back to explore the ins and outs of decanic influence on four specific cards: the 4 of Cups, the 5 of Wands, the 6 of Swords, and the 9 of Pentacles. Join us as we unpack the Lords of Luxury, Strife, Science, and Gain—revealing their astrological, Kabbalistic, elemental, and numerological layers. This week, we also have a Patreon bonus video where Mary and I discuss decanic dignity! and how it stacks up in a few special cards. For access, you can sign up at patreon.com/thetarotpodcast. If you’d like to look closer at the visuals and graphics we discuss in the episode, there are three ways to do that:
Also: stay tuned for next week’s solo show, whose topic will be <drumroll>… How to Do a Decan Walk!
Mary K. Greer is an independent scholar, writer, teacher, and professional tarot consultant, known for her innovative teaching techniques. With over 56 years tarot experience, she is the author of 12 books on tarot and on magic, has a master’s degree in English literature, and taught tarot in colleges and universities for 12 years. If you’d like to study with Mary in-person, you can register for her yearly Omega Institute workshops in July:
Also relevant to this episode:
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 39: Decan Basics for Tarot Readers, with Mary K. Greer | 05 Mar 2026 | 00:28:31 | |
This episode is the first of a three-part series on decans, as we count down to the spring equinox. The legendary Mary K. Greer is in the house! for an overview conversation on the astrological structure of decans, and how they matter for tarot. In next week’s episode, Mary and I will look specifically at four cards and their relationship with the decans. The third episode in this series, right before the equinox, will be a solo show on decan walks: what they are, and my take on how to do one. The graphics we refer to in this episode are included below, if you scroll past the show notes, and are also available on Patreon. If you prefer, you can also head on over to YouTube, for the fully illustrated visual version of the show. Mary K. Greer is an independent scholar, writer, teacher, and professional tarot consultant, known for her innovative teaching techniques. With over 56 years tarot experience, she is the author of 12 books on tarot and on magic, has a master’s degree in English literature, and taught tarot in colleges and universities for 12 years. Her 1984 book Tarot for Your Self revolutionized the practice of tarot, being the first book to both describe how to read for oneself, and use tarot as a self-help, personal development, and creativity tool. As an author and teacher she emphasizes breaking all the rules regarding methods of learning and using the tarot to find what truly works for you. As a tarot reader, she thinks of herself as a ‘midwife of the soul,’ favoring techniques that are interactive, transformational and empowering. If you’d like to study with Mary in-person, you can register for her yearly Omega Institute workshops in July: • Tarot Magic: July 17-19, a weekend with Barbara Moore, Nancy Antenucci, Charles Harrington, and Mary Greer. https://www.eomega.org/workshops/tarot-magic • Wisdom of the Tarot - a July 19-24 five-day intensive with Mary Greer, deck creator Ellen Lorenzi-Prince, and Carolyn Cushing, who carries on the tarot teachings of Rachel Pollack. (link to come, or contact eomega.org for further info.) Mentioned in this episode:
________________________________________ • Become a Tarot Podcast member! patreon.com/thetarotpodcast • Shop for Tarot Podcast MERCH! & cool stuff made by your host! etsy.com/shop/tarotista • Find trusted tarot readers and explore books and classes! thetarotpodcast.com • Continue your tarot journey with The Living Tarot book and/or The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book!) 😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 You can view the graphics for this episode on Podbean, or on Patreon.
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| Episode 38: How Can Tarot Help Me in a Crisis? with Theresa Reed, the Tarot Lady | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:24:32 | |
The fabulous Theresa Reed is back on the show! to talk about how your cards can help you in a crisis. Tarot is a matchless resource for those moments of acute agony that arrive uninvited in our lives; even when you feel you’re at rock-bottom, the cards can help you feel seen and chart a course to a place of more ease and stability. If you’re in need of a crisis tarot reading from someone other than yourself, you can find a kind, trustworthy, reputable diviner on the Tarot Podcast’s list of recommended readers. Theresa Reed (aka “The Tarot Lady”) has been a Tarot card reader and astrologer for 40 years. She’s the author of multiple best-selling and award-winning books, including The Tarot Coloring Book, Astrology For Real Life, and The Cards You’re Dealt. She’s a featured writer for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, where she writes about moon phases, zodiac elements, astrocartography, and more. You can find her at https://thetarotlady.com and on Instagram as @thetarotlady. Mentioned in this episode:
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 37: Shuffling Tarot Cards | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:11:55 | |
Tarot cards are GIANT compared to regular playing cards. How the heck do you shuffle them?! This week, the Tarot Podcast has a quick explainer episode for all your shuffling needs. If you enjoyed this show and would like loads more tips on how to read tarot, check out my book, The Living Tarot, available wherever books are sold. Or, consider The Living Tarot online class! (discount for class available if you purchase the book – just email me.) What are your shuffling rituals—and how did you come up with them? Write to me on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com.
Mentioned in this episode:
For further exploration...
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| Episode 36: Robert M. Place + the Alchemical Tarot | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:35:06 | |
The Tarot Podcast has TWO different interviews! with two different deck creators this week. Here in Episode 36, we chat with Robert Place, the creator of the best-selling Alchemical Tarot. Bob drew the Alchemical Tarot in the style of 17th century alchemical engravings, and it became an instant favorite in the tarot community on publication in 1995. Along with Bob’s books, this deck is a crash course in Western esotericism, and we had a lot of fun talking about the wondrous synchronicities that accompanied his creation of this deck. On Patreon, we have a written interview with Catrin Welz-Stein, the creator of the Tarot of Mystical Moments, a stunning and surreal woman-centered deck. At the end, there’s a one-card reading from me. You can check it out by visiting patreon.com/thetarotpodcast and signing up to support the show. (Thank you!) Featured in the show art this week: The King of Coins, 5 of Wands and Lady of Cups (equivalent to the Page of Cups in RWS-based decks) from the Alchemical Tarot. Robert M. Place is the designer and illustrator of over twenty Tarot and oracle decks: including the internationally acclaimed and award-winning Alchemical Tarot, The Angels Tarot, The Marziano Tarot, the award-winning The Tarot of the Saints, The Buddha Tarot, The Vampire Tarot, The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery, The Tarot of the Alchemical Magnum Opus, The Alchemical Tarot of Marseille, The Hermes Playing Card Oracle, An Ukiyo-e Lenormand (based on Japanese culture), The Raziel Tarot and The Burning Serpent Oracle (for both of which he collaborated with Tarot diva Rachel Pollack). His newest work, The First Occult Tarot, is a deck and book based on the descriptions written in 1781 by the Comte de Mellet, the first occult author to describe a Tarot deck. He is the author of The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, which Booklist has said, “may be the best book ever written on that deck of cards decorated with mysterious images called the Tarot.” He is the author of Astrology and Divination, Magic and Alchemy, Shamanism, Alchemy and the Tarot, and The Tarot, Magic, Alchemy, Hermeticism, and Neoplatonism.
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😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 35: The 8 of Wands in Real Life | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:32:28 | |
Like a spring-loaded arrow, the 8 of Wands speeds through the world’s networks and pathways to land at your doorstep! The fast-talking (and morally ambiguous) 8 of Wands is known also as the Lord of Swiftness; when you draw it, look out for the following themes:
For my brief intro to decans, see episode 06: https://youtu.be/Z3cAUavJBjQ To share your stories about the 9 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page.
😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 | |||
| Episode 34: Can I Use Tarot in a Magic Spell? with Judika Illes | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:26:18 | |
As tarot readers, we specialize in divination—but what about magic? Magic and divination are two sides of the same coin—but in this week’s episode we bring them together. How we can use the symbolic language of tarot to create a magic spell? Spoiler alert: it’s easier than you think. My guest is Judika Illes, who has written so many books devoted to magic spells, spirits, and witchcraft. My favorite is the best-selling Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells, which is off my bookshelf more often than it’s on it, that’s how much I use it. Judika is also a teacher, a reader, an editor, and a practitioner of the very arts she writes about. So gather up your witchy herbs, give your cards a shuffle, and settle in as we search for answers to the question: Can I Use Tarot in a Magic Spell? Judika Illes is a lifelong lover, student, and practitioner of the magical arts. She is the author of numerous books devoted to magic spells, spirits, witchcraft, and saints, including the best-sellers Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells and Encyclopedia of Spirits, as well as the creator of two card decks: Magic Spells Oracle and Protection Spells. Her other books include Pure Magic: A Complete Course in Spellcasting, Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Witches: A Compendium, and Daily Magic, a perpetual calendar of spells, rituals, and feasts. A certified aromatherapist, Judika has been a professional tarot card reader since 1988. She teaches about spell-casting and other topics in the US and internationally, live and virtually. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJudikaIlles Instagram: @judikailles Books mentioned in the episode: _________________________________
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| Episode 33: Five Questions with the Motherpeace Tarot creators | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:45:37 | |
The Motherpeace Tarot (familiarly known as “you know, the round deck” in the tarot community) is a foundational document of the modern tarot era. First self-published in 1981, the Motherpeace revolutionized the world of tarot decks. Its creators, Vicki Noble and Karen Vogel, set out to dismantle the patriarchal underpinnings of traditional tarot with cards that honored indigenous, pre-historic, and matriarchal cultures. In today’s conversation, Motherpeace’s creators share a glimpse of the psychic foment of 1970’s Berkeley, California. They tell the story of how two feminist academics found the Goddess, and sought to express and uphold her presence by changing the practice of divination from the ground up. In the reading we did at the end of the show, we drew the "Shaman of Wands" (equivalent to the King of Wands in Rider Waite Smith-type decks). Here is the image, for your reference.
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😊 And...don't forget to like, rate, subscribe, and share!! 😊 Vicki Noble is a feminist healer and wisdom teacher, co-creator of Motherpeace and author of numerous books, including Shakti Woman and The Double Goddess. For decades she has traveled and taught internationally; her books are translated and published in various languages. Retired from teaching as a graduate professor in two Women’s Spirituality Masters Programs in California, she teaches regularly in Europe. At home she works as a professional astrologer and healer, adapting Tibetan Buddhist Dakini practices for her Goddess students and holding private intensives in Santa Cruz, California. Karen Vogel, co-creator of Motherpeace, is widely known as as a tarot reader, teacher and writer as well as an extraordinary artist. She is the author of The Motherpeace Tarot Guidebook (1995), the novel Coyote Tails (2007), and the essays “Love of the Goddess” (Foremothers of the Womens Spirituality Movement ed. Miriam Robbins Dexter and Vicki Noble 2015) and “Female Shamanism, Goddess Cultures, and Psychedelics” (ReVision, winter 2003). The worldwide success of the Motherpeace Deck (currently over 500,000 in print) has afforded her the time to develop as an artist and sculptor of wood and stone as well as continue her exploration of the intermountain and far west. She has a degree in anthropology and a background in women’s studies, art and shamanism.
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| Episode 32: The 7 of Wands in Real Life | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:23:13 | |
In this episode, we examine how the 7 of Wands shows up in the lives of regular folks—like you and me. The 7 of Wands explodes onto the scene with the individualistic quest energy we will come to associate with Sevens. Challenging and courageous, the 7 of Wands is known as the Lord of Valor. When you draw it, look out for the following themes:
For my brief intro to decans, see episode 06: 2 of Wands + intro to decans. To share your stories about the 8 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. ________________________________
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| Episode 31: Do Archetypes Power the Tarot? with Deb & Joseph from This Jungian Life | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:28:17 | |
In this episode, Deborah Stewart and Joseph Lee from This Jungian Life return to the Tarot Podcast to talk about the commonly misunderstood Jungian concept of the archetype. What are they? and what do they have to do with tarot—if anything? Thinking about archetypes is notoriously tricky, but your intrepid hosts give it their best shot, peering into the depths of depth psychology…and hunting for a glimpse of the cards. Deborah Stewart is a Jungian analyst, Gestalt therapist, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker who migrates between Cape Cod and Sarasota, Florida. She is a member of the Philadelphia Association of Jungian Analysts and the Inter-Regional Society of Jungian Analysts. She also is a graduate of the Westchester Institute for Training in Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis. Joseph R. Lee is a Jungian Analyst who co-hosts the podcast This Jungian Life and co-created Dream School, an online program that teaches dream interpretation. He lectures widely on the Western Mystery Tradition and Hermetic Qabalah. His teaching and clinical work are informed by almost five decades of research and practice with Tarot and other symbolic systems.
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| Episode 30: The New Year's Spread | 30 Dec 2025 | 00:13:10 | |
Want a super-simple spread that will tell you one unexpected and interesting thing! about your 2026? Well, here you go! Forget about the Celtic Cross, forget about the “Wheel of the Year”—with just two cards, tarot can offer you a relevant and specific scene from the year ahead, tailored just for you. If you’ve enjoyed this spread and would like to learn how to design your own simple spreads, check out my book, The Living Tarot, available wherever books are sold. Or, consider The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book – just message me.) If you try the New Year’s Spread, let me know how it works out! Write to me on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com. Here’s the 2026 Decan Reference Chart for you to consult when you do this spread!
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| Episode 29: Five Questions with Jamie Sawyer + the Out of Hand Tarot | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:26:14 | |
Indie tarot artist Jamie Sawyer has created many decks, of which my favorite is today’s showcase: the Out of Hand Tarot. Drawn (mostly) from a first-person perspective and packed with sly references to the Rider Waite Smith tarot, Out of Hand invites you to step into the cards and experience those familiar archetypal presences in a 21st-century setting. Jamie’s decks have limited print runs and sell out quickly, but she has made this one available again through the modern magic of print-on-demand! And be sure to check out this week’s video bonus content for patrons, where you can watch a time-lapse video of one of Jamie’s cards evolving from start to finish: patreon.com/thetarotpodcast. Jamie Sawyer is an artist who enjoys exploring the many ways that creativity weaves through the tapestry of life. From a career in tattooing that has spanned over 2 decades to learning the Tarot and its lessons via illustrating the art and archetypes, Jamie has developed a unique artistic style. A self-proclaimed “creatrix with a busy mind and a lack of vices,” Jamie has self-published over 10 divination decks (including tarot, oracle and Lenormand). She also is known for her miniature handmade heirloom resin and wood “Tarot Tiles,” a tactile way to experience some of her creations. Her preferred method of connecting with the Tarot is through layered readings using the many creative divination tools she makes.
Where to find Jamie: Explore Jamie’s website! https://www.jamiesawyer336.com Buy decks at Jamie’s print-on-demand shop! https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/jamiesawyer336 Support Jamie on Patreon! https://www.creativedivination.com IG: @jamiesawyer336 YouTube: @Jamiesawyer336 Substack: https://jamiesawyer.substack.com
✯ MORE TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯ ✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/shop ✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships & gift memberships ✯ www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast ✯ The Living Tarot Online Class ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/class ✯ Readings with TSC ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/readings ✯ TSC books ✯
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| Episode 28: Can Looking at Art Help Me Read Tarot? | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:24:17 | |
In today’s episode, we plunge into the world of the image with artomancer Laetitia Barbier! When we enter into a tarot reading, we look at the pictures on the cards in a particular way. And when we enter a gallery or museum, we look at the paintings hanging on the walls in another way. How are these two ways of looking different? Do they need to be? Can looking at art teach you to read tarot? Or to put it the other way: Can reading tarot teach you to look at art? Could museums really be portals to a spirit dimension, in disguise?! So. Many. Questions! Laetitia has long haunted the unfathomable intersection of art and magic, so who better to ask? Our conversation opened many doors for me – and I look forward to hearing what you think.
French-born Laetitia Barbier is an independent scholar, as well as a professional tarot reader and teacher. She earned a Bachelor's Degree in Art History from La Sorbonne University Paris in 2009. Laetitia has worked with Morbid Anatomy from 2012 to 2024 as a programming director, head librarian, and occasional curator. Her book Tarot and Divination Cards: A Visual Archive was published in 2021 with a foreword by Rachel Pollack. Along with her friend Lou Benesch, she’s the co-creator the Camena Tarot. As a writer and scholar, she has the privilege of collaborating with the iconic French maître-cartier Grimaud, notably on the exquisite re-release of their 1930s Tarot de Marseille and Belline Oracle. Laetitia has lectured, taught and read cards for various cultural institutions, such as Greenwood Cemetery, Artyard, Fotografiska NY, the College of Psychic Studies in London or the New York Public Library. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.
✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯ ✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ https://etsy.com/shop/tarotista
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/shop ✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯ www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast ✯ The Living Tarot Online Class ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/class ✯ Readings with TSC ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/readings ✯ TSC books ✯
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| Episode 27: The 6 of Wands in Real Life | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:22:00 | |
In this episode, we examine how the 6 of Wands shows up in the lives of ordinary humans like you and me. With our first 6, the suit of Wands finds its purpose in life and starts to shine with the glow of empowerment! which is why it’s called the Lord of Victory. When you draw it, look out for the following themes:
To share your stories about the 7 of Wands for the next Tarot in Real Life segment - please join as a Patreon supporter of the Tarot Podcast! You can also write in to the show at thetarotpodcast.com/about, using the contact form at the bottom of the page. ✯✯✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯✯✯ ✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ etsy.com/shop/tarotista
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/shop ✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯ patreon.com/thetarotpodcast ✯ The Living Tarot online class ✯ tsusanchang.com/class ✯ readings with TSC ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/readings ✯ TSC books ✯
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| Episode 26: Am I Psychic Enough To Read Tarot? with Mat Auryn | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:21:58 | |
It’s in everybody’s stereotype of the fortune-teller – the dimly lit boudoir, the crystal ball, the embroidered cushions, and on the storefront, a great big sign that says, “PSYCHIC.” But do you really need to be psychic to read the cards? And what does it mean to be psychic, anyway? In this week’s episode, we look for answers with one of today’s leading voices in all things psychic: Mat Auryn, author of Psychic Witch, The Psychic Art of Tarot and other titles. For many years, Mat read tarot on what you’d have to call the frontline of psychic engagement: Salem, Massachusetts in the month of October. In our conversation, you’ll learn a bit about what it’s like to be a psychic practitioner—and how you can access your own special abilities to become a better tarot reader.
Mat Auryn is an influential author and teacher in occultism and witchcraft. His books Psychic Witch, Mastering Magick, and The Psychic Art of Tarot offer practical insights into psychic and magickal practices. He also co-authored Pisces Witch with Ivo Dominguez, Jr. Mat’s work draws from various spiritual and magickal traditions he’s studied and trained in, aiming to synthesize them in accessible and practical ways. Beyond writing, Mat worked for many years as a professional psychic and tarot reader in Salem, Massachusetts, as well as his own private practice. He is on the faculty at the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, and co-hosts THE CIRCLE IS podCAST with actress Rachel True. Residing in California’s Bay Area, he co-owns Datura Trading Co. and Modern Witch University. You can find out more information about Mat on his website at www.Auryn.com
✯✯✯ TAROT GIFT IDEAS for the holidays! ✯✯✯ ✯ TSC’s Etsy shop ✯ www.etsy.com/shop/tarotista
✯ Gift certificates for readings and classes ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/shop ✯ The Tarot Podcast memberships and gift memberships ✯ www.patreon.com/thetarotpodcast ✯ The Living Tarot online class ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/class ✯ readings with TSC ✯ www.tsusanchang.com/readings ✯ TSC books ✯
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| Episode 25: Reversed Cards | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:20:35 | |
“Oh no! Some of my cards ended up upside down! What does that mean?!” In this week’s Try This at Home! segment, we’re having a look at one of the most common matters of debate among tarot readers: how to interpret reversed cards. There are many schools of thought on how to handle reversals, so I’ve put together a brief guide so you can choose what makes sense to you. If you’ve enjoyed this summary and would love more answers to all your tarot “starter questions,” check out my book, The Living Tarot, available wherever books are sold. Or, consider The Living Tarot online class (discount for class available if you purchase the book – just email me.) And if you already use reversals, I’d love to hear your take on how you interpret them! Write to me on the Tarot Podcast Discord server (if you’re a Patreon member - to sign up and support the podcast, visit patreon.com/thetarotpodcast). Or you can reach me through the contact form at thetarotpodcast.com.
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