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Some people inherit a family business. Linus O'Brien inherited a time warp. His father, Richard O'Brien, created The Rocky Horror Picture Show. But before Linus ever stepped into that legacy, he went off and made his own noise. He was DJing school discos at 14. He borrowed £500 to press records with only one side (the second side cost extra, and so did a sleeve), and the very next night the radio played it while his friends snored on his bedroom floor. Then came techno, a record shop in Camden, Vancouver, Tokyo and Los Angeles: a résumé that reads less like a career and more like a mixtape. Then he pointed a camera at the strangest thing he knew. Strange Journey: The Story of Rocky Horror is a love letter to his dad and to the misfits, dreamers and fishnet faithful who turned a midnight movie into a home. It made me cry. Bring tissues. Bring a garter. We talk about growing up next to a phenomenon, interviewing his dad and Tim Curry, why a creative life refuses to travel in a straight line, and the advice he'd give his younger self, which is unprintable here and perfect anyway. Linus is funny, generous, brilliant, and wonderfully strange. Don't dream it, be it. Follow Linus on Instagram at @linus.obrien (https://www.instagram.com/linus.obrien) for news about his upcoming projects. Trust us, you'll want a front-row seat. ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

I took a long break. I wrote a book. Those two facts are related. Tapping into the Akasha is out today with Wiser Books, and this surprise episode is my way of throwing it a party. The last year has been a lot of creative shapeshifting: writing, going back to acting, making music, growing The Cocktail Camp, and walking into a new chapter of life with my shoes untied. I share the story underneath the book. Growing up in the only Hindu temple in Iran during the revolution. Traveling through India with my family. Arriving in the United States as a refugee. And the spiritual practices that held me together through unimaginable loss, while I rebuilt myself one brick at a time. This book is not another system to fix you. You were never broken. It's an invitation to peel back the layers of identity we pile on over a lifetime and find what was there all along. The Akasha isn't somewhere out there. It's the living memory of existence, and we are already inside it. In this episode: • The creative road that led me back to writing • Growing up in the only Hindu temple in Iran • The practices that carried me through grief and loss • Why the Akasha is not something to chase, but something to remember • A reading from the introduction of the book ✨ Buy the Book If this podcast has ever inspired you, held you, or made you feel a little less alone, the best way to support the show is to pick up a copy. 📖 Get your copy here: https://www.magicinclined.com/tappingintotheakasha Connect with me: Newsletter: https://magicinclined.myflodesk.com/wkdnr2y6oe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magicinclined Website: www.magicinclined.com ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic. All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Not goodbye. A sacred pause. In this last episode (for now), I look back at the soul of Magic Inclined: how it began after the loss of my daughter, how it became a place for sharing and transformation and connection, and how it grew into something so much bigger than I ever imagined. I name and thank every guest who helped write this story with me, and I share what comes next: living more intentionally, and honoring the magic that is already here. Whether you listened to one episode or every single one, thank you for being part of this. Maybe the magic continues. Maybe this is just the beginning. ✨ I love you all. Stay in touch with me on Instagram, and download my plant music at the link below: https://magicinclined.myflodesk.com/sr90gpzl9t ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Some people play music. Anna Hillburg is music, wearing sparkles. She's a multi-instrumentalist, songwriter and vocal coach who has played with Shannon Shaw, made genre-bending solo records, and just released Dangerously Impressionable, a disco-tinged album that should come with a warning label for your hips. We travel from her days as a trumpet kid in Long Beach to her current era as a full-on synth goddess in Nevada City. We talk about creativity, collaboration, dance, doubt, beauty, and growing into your most playful, embodied self. She also explains why she breathes life into a green bubble of visualized energy before a lesson, and somehow it makes perfect sense. A love letter to the creative process, and to one of the most inspiring artists I know. To connect with Anna, please visit: https://annahillburg.bandcamp.com/ https://www.annahillburg.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Nkechi Deanna Njaka is back, and she is still the only person I know who can explain the nervous system and make it sound like poetry. A multidisciplinary artist and neuroscientist, Nkechi talks about what transformation actually looks like when we let ourselves evolve, especially when it's uncomfortable. We wander through mindfulness, creativity, intergenerational trauma and racial dynamics in wellness spaces, plus her own path through anxiety, academia and art. She opens up about her podcast Dating White, the shift from healing to transformation, and why creativity is still one of our most powerful tools for survival and connection. Her presence is a balm and a beacon. You'll see. To connect with Nkechi, please visit: https://www.nkechinjaka.com/ Get one month free of Dreamwell and the Compass with code: ROHINI https://iamthecompass.com https://dreamwellbewell.com ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic. All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Five years ago I planted a little garden called the Magic Inclined Community. Today I'm handing the watering can to three luminous humans: Birdie, Hawa and Kail. This handoff has been six months in the making, and in this episode you get to meet them. Birdie is a business powerhouse and intuitive healer offering Akashic Records readings, Reiki, and practical guidance for turning spiritual gifts into thriving work. Hawa blends ancestral wisdom with modern insight, offering transpersonal hypnotherapy, marketing magic and deep energetic healing. Kail is a master educator and imagination guide with more than 20 years in theater, helping people access multidimensional states and creative expansion through his new space, The Magic IF. All my courses and workshops will stay inside the forum. The community keeps the Magic Inclined name for now, and may grow into something that reflects their vision. That's not an ending. That's what gardens do. Visit https://www.magicinclined.com ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Mona Loring stumbled into public relations by accident and then built a powerhouse on purpose. She's the founder of Conscious Living PR and Conscious Hollywood, and she's rewriting what PR can be: mindful, honest, and driven by purpose instead of polish. She is living proof that you can hustle hard and still sound like yourself. We talk about building a brand people can't resist, the real power of PR beyond a press hit, and how to balance strategy with intuition. Mona brings her signature mix of wisdom and humor, with stories from Hollywood, from supporting thought leaders, and from leading with heart in an industry that usually leads with image. If you're an entrepreneur, artist or visionary ready to step into your power, take notes. Mona is generous with the good stuff. To connect with Mona, please visit: https://www.consciouslivingpr.com/ https://conscious-hollywood.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Gucci, Tom Ford and Sephora walk into a room. Darcy Barber is already there, making it more beautiful. As Executive Creative Director of FOAM Creative, she builds the kind of experiences people talk about for years. She once turned a retailer's discarded luxury fabric into a sold-out clothing line, then sold it back to them. Iconic is the only word. We talk about trading corporate life for creative freedom, her DIY Craft Nights in NYC, and why everyone is creative (yes, you). Darcy makes a very convincing case for getting over the fear of failure and just starting. Funny, generous and effortlessly cool. Consider this your sign to pick up the glue gun. To connect with Darcy, please visit: https://foamcreative.com/ Follow Darcy on Instagram: @darcydoodles ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Imagine a party-loving, vintage-hunting anti-capitalist who decided to take on billionaires and landlords for fun. Now stop imagining, because Jen Snyder is real. Jen is a political strategist and campaign manager who fights for working-class people. She came from advertising, and now she uses the same persuasion tactics that sell sneakers to win real change. We get into the psychology of propaganda, how billionaires convince people to vote against their own interests, and why local government is where the real power lives. If politics makes you want to crawl under a blanket, Jen hands you a flashlight: tangible steps to get involved without burning out. We also talk about immigration rights, social housing, and how taxing the rich can fund the programs we all deserve. The future isn't written yet. Jen has a pen. Resources & Links Jen Mentioned: Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights: https://lccrsf.org/ SFILEN, San Francisco Immigrant Legal & Education Network: https://sfilen.org/ Immigration Institute of the Bay Area: https://iibayarea.org/ Dean Preston: https://www.deanprestonsf.com/ Democratic Socialists of America SF: https://dsasf.org/ Join a Know Your Rights Workshop with SFILEN: https://sfilen.org/ Attend a canvassing event (DSA SF events): https://dsasf.org/events/ Look up your local reps & policies and start asking questions. ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Kasey Esser's life reads like a movie, and lately he's actually starring in them. He left the Midwest for Los Angeles, built Essers, his thriving personal training studio, and then did the bravest thing a person with a perfectly good business can do: he chased his childhood dream of acting. Now he's a leading man in the wild new world of vertical dramas. We talk about the grit it took to build a business from nothing, the nerve it takes to start over, and what really happens on a vertical series set (real knives, anyone?). Kasey loves playing heroes, and after this conversation I understand why. He's one of the kindest, most genuine people in the business. I left feeling hopeful, a little braver, and deeply grateful. Grab a cozy spot and meet the hero of his own story. To connect with Kasey, please visit: https://www.kaseyesser.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Hugo Hamlet is an actor, model, musician, artist and philosopher, and he went to clown school, which explains a lot about how joyful he is. Talking to Hugo feels like stepping through a portal. We explore his curious mind, the way he stays plugged into inspiration, why joy is always a choice, and the role love plays in shaping a life. We also talk about his music, including his song Businessman, and the projects he has coming next. Soulful, surprising and full of unexpected wisdom. Come for the music, stay for the philosophy, leave a little more in love with being alive. To connect with Hugo, please visit: https://www.hugohamlet.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

What makes a cult a cult? And what do we do with the stories we inherit when they stop fitting? Jonathan Hirsch knows these questions from the inside. He grew up in a cult-like spiritual community, and he became a journalist, an audio documentarian, and VP of Podcasts at Sony Studios. In other words, he turned a very strange childhood into a career of telling the truth beautifully. We talk about the psychology of cults, the resurgence of new-age movements, and his deeply personal memoir Mind Is Burning, about family, faith, and caring for an estranged parent. Thoughtful, honest, and impossible to stop thinking about. To connect with Jonathan, please visit: https://www.neonhum.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

My dear friend Mary Grisey weaves. Thread, yes, but also spirit, intuition and form, which is a much harder loom to work. Mary is an artist, medium and teacher, and her practice is a collaboration with the unseen. We talk about art school, the very real challenges of being an artist right now, and the moment she surrendered to spirit and let her work become something she never could have planned. She also shares her upcoming Art & Altar masterclass (starting February 15th!), where she teaches students how to channel spirit through creative expression. If you've ever felt your art wanted to be bigger than you, this one's for you. Let's weave some magic together. To connect with Mary, please visit: https://thewovenchannel.com/collections/workshops/products/art-altar-a-channeling-masterclass-2025 ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

David Allred makes music that feels like someone holding the door open for you. He's a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer, and his album The Beautiful World came out January 24th on Erased Tapes Records. It's a tender look at connection, isolation, and the longing to belong in a world that moves too fast. David shares the stories behind the songs, including "O Lauren," written for a childhood friend whose memory is still part of his life. We talk about staying creative under modern pressure, the beauty of collaboration, and how music connects us across time and distance. Please note: this episode touches on sensitive topics, including suicide. Take care as you listen, and know that support is available (resources below). David is warm, wise and humble, and his music will stay with you long after the episode ends. To connect with David and explore his music, please visit: https://www.davidallredmusic.net/ https://idol-io.ffm.to/thebeautifulworld If you or someone you know needs support, please know help is available: United States: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 | 988lifeline.org Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 The Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth): Call 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678678 | thetrevorproject.org Canada: Talk Suicide Canada: Call 1-833-456-4566 or text 45645 (4 PM - 12 AM EST) | talksuicide.ca UK: Samaritans: Call 116 123 (free, 24/7) or email [email protected] | samaritans.org ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic. All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ

Mo'men Ghanim trained as a civil engineer. Then he picked up a camera, because some things need to be preserved more than they need to be built. Mo'men is a Palestinian filmmaker, photographer and activist, and his work weaves art and advocacy together so tightly you can't find the seam. We talk about his exhibition in Qatar celebrating Palestinian heritage through photography, and his acclaimed documentary Shahroor, a story of resilience and hope. He opens up about documenting life under occupation, why humanizing stories matters, and how social media can become a tool for cultural preservation. This is a conversation about the power of art to heal, to connect, and to call us to action, with someone whose dedication to his craft and his people is breathtaking. To connect with Mo'men, please visit: https://momenlense.com/ ▶▶▶ Please rate, comment, and share this episode to share the magic, and visit https://www.magicinclined.com All music provided by www.lukesweeney.com Luke's Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0HUCUssIZ14hidQEb4IpwZ