Interview with Gary Lachman

In this episode, legendary occult historian and ex-Blondie bassist Gary Lachman joins us to talk magic, Crowley, meme sorcery, and the reality-bending weirdness of the 21st century. From shared dreams in 1970s New York to egregores, astral hobos, and the dark gravity of Trump as a Tulpa, Gary pulls no punches.Show Notes How a hit Blondie song was inspired by psychic experiences Colins Wilson’s books The Outsider and The Occult His involvement with Ordo Templi Orientis Why Crowley’s followers creeped him out Gary’s book, Dark Star Rising: Magick and Power in the Age of Trump The occult revival of the 1970s (and how it compares to today) Why reality itself is up for grabs—and what that means for Mage: The Ascension players The movies Dark City, The Matrix and Forbidden Planet Gary’s forthcoming memoir, Touched by the Presence: From Blondie’s Bowery and Rock and Roll to Magic and the Occult, scheduled for release on November 18, 2025, by Inner Traditions. Plus: what happened when he contradicted David Bowie at a party