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In this special holiday shopping Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend and fellow e-commerce small business owner Amy Steffek (of Puck Hcky) all about the trials and tribulations of selling stuff online.  In the Business of Woo, the pressure to produce and sell products online is fierce, coming along with phrases like "passive income" and "scale". And, while it's good to diversify and sell real, high-quality products online for any Woo-based or other small business owner, it's not the panacea that online influencers and spiritual grifters tell you it is. Just ask Amy! Sure, she may not be in the Business of Woo, but her small, online, cult following apparel business has taught her a lot about the difference between how things look from the outside-- and what the reality is on the inside. Take, for instance, Amy's 7-figure year. Yes, her online business literally pierced a MILLION DOLLARS (said in Dr. Evil voice) one year, but that's just revenue, guys. What was her profit, you might be asking? $0. Yep, that's right. In one year, she made more money than ever before-- and wasn't able to pay herself a dime for it. And this is NOT unusual in the business world and, in particular, the Business of Woo. The key? Constant tweaks and adjustments in the face of shifting economic and industrial factors is crucial-- and never mistake revenue for margin. What's more: turns out, our fellow humans aren't really doing great, and the mental health crisis affecting our nation is bubbling up for anyone interacting with the general public-- especially if those interactions are online. Anyone that runs an online business gets near-daily abuse and, in spite of all of our love and light tools, trust me when I tell you: it has an aggregate negative impact on anyone on the receiving end. This episode is hitting just as we're all heading out into the interwebs to start holiday shopping for friends, family and loved ones, arming us with a heightened awareness of how best to interact with our fellow human beings. Business owners are people, too. And no, they're not always rich. Often, they're tired and just trying to make their cool thing work so others can enjoy it. Proceed accordingly! LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooAmy's Links: https://puckhcky.com/https://www.instagram.com/puckhcky/ Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend Kristen Pavle (of Relational and Ember) all about her work in creating and managing community, both online and in-person, for various businesses, nonprofits and community organizations. The crux of this episode?  How can we-- either in the Business of Woo, at our "normal" day jobs, or just in society in general-- identify, build and maintain community? Kristen breaks down the definition of community, why it matters for small businesses (and for us as human beings!), and how it's changed in the strange last five years. She also gets into the nitty gritty of what makes a community work or NOT work, and Rachel and Kristen dig into the nuances within the realm of "spiritual community" and its classic pitfalls: spiritual narcissists, grifters, unstable Cluster-B types, and those suffering from "Main Character Syndrome".  In a post-Covid, work-from-home, gig economy world, creating community has never been harder-- but it's also never been more important! Thankfully, Kristen shares incredible insights, practical solutions, and the all-important dose of hope to get us going. LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooKristen's Links: Website: https://www.emberconsulting.co/Email: [email protected]: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kpavle/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show and world-famous Tarot Lady: Theresa Reed. Theresa is an award-winning author of MANY Woo-based books-- not to mention an illustrious content creator providing live weekly readings on Instagram.  In this episode, Rachel and Theresa dive into the tricky para-social dynamics created by social media, podcasting, YouTubing and content creation as a whole, and how Woo-based business owners can (and should) maintain appropriate boundaries with clients, subscribers and listeners. Theresa does a great job explaining how enforcing these boundaries CAN come across as bitchy, rude or even a downstream effect of believing your own myth. But she also explains that we in the Business of Woo can't always manage the perceptions or reactions of others, so it's best to just stay focused and in our lanes-- and within our healthy, appropriate "container". The summary? Modernity is bringing an increasing rate of change, particularly with regard to technology and its downstream effects-- particularly as it relates to near-constant, 24/7 access and stimulation. As psychics, energy workers and Woo-centric content creators, we need our downtime-- and our space and silence!  So, don't feel bad about holding the line in the war of constant communication. You don't always have to respond right away-- and, sometimes, you don't have to respond at all!  LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachKasia's TOTEM Deck(s) Review: https://youtu.be/Ba7Mi7HaEO8?si=X2IVEQrxj_jqPi3rTOTEM + Tarot Map Interview: https://youtu.be/yCOOjzGY0Yo?si=xV5UOtGdayTJgl4pPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooTheresa's Links: All links: https://linktr.ee/thetarotladyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetarotlady/Website: https://www.thetarotlady.com Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with the world-famous star of YouTube's Tarot Map channel: Kasia Kulbaska. Kasia, an astrologer and tarot card reader, has been on what she calls "TarotTube" for many years, sharing incredible deck reviews and facilitating fascinating discussions about the world-- and Business-- of Woo.  Kasia and Rachel chat about the misconceptions and myths surrounding Woo-based YouTube, particularly with regard to monetizing video content. Spoiler alert: it's hard, and just because someone has tens of thousands of subscribers (or followers), it doesn't necessarily mean that's translating into a direct payment business model. Kasia explains how she uses YouTube's platform to get the word out about her private practice, acting as a kind of evergreen (and authentic) marketing tool. Kasia and Rachel also chat about how great podcasting and YouTubing are for Woo-based practitioners, helping to introduce yourself to your potential client base while also offering up legitimate Woo-based insights-- not to mention your unique point of view! And, unlike print or video advertising or social media marketing, YouTube videos and podcast episodes are forever-- and when someone finds out about you, they can go search and "binge" your content to really dig into your vibe (and unique slice of the Business of Woo).  The key to it all? Well, there's a few. First, you have to be completely obsessed and inspired with the "thing" you're exploring in this emergent media platforms. Why? Well, because the second requirement is consistency over a long period of time, which can only be achieved by someone that genuinely, actually loves the nerdy Woo of it all. LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachKasia's TOTEM Deck(s) Review: https://youtu.be/Ba7Mi7HaEO8?si=X2IVEQrxj_jqPi3rTOTEM + Tarot Map Interview: https://youtu.be/yCOOjzGY0Yo?si=xV5UOtGdayTJgl4pPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooKasia's Links:  Website: www.tarotmap.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tarotmap/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tarotmap/ Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with client, friend and consumer of the Woo Nicole Foos (of NVision by Nicole Foos).  Not only is Nicole a talented crystal jewelry maker, artist and sculptor, but she's also an accomplished student and practitioner of the Woo herself, making her a VERY discerning customer. And that's exactly why she was pinged to join this Business of Woo-themed podcast series to offer up a unique line of sight into the client's perspective.  What are Nicole's "green flags" vs. "red flags" when it comes to engaging with a psychic or practitioner? What trends has she noticed in the last few years, and which of these trends give her a solid case of the "ick"? What are some key metrics-- like reviews or age of business-- that skeptical but curious spiritual explorers keep an eye out for as they discern the best (and must trustworthy) practitioners with whom to work? This episode has it all: what is up with those weird psychic "membership programs"? What is the real math behind those online directories? How old SHOULD you be before you declare yourself a "life coach"?  Listeners will come away from this episode with a clear set of criteria to consider before committing to someone in the Business of Woo! LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooNicole's LINKS: Website: https://www.nvisionbynicolefoos.com/Etsy Shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NVisionbyNicoleFoosPlease note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Britt Sundkulla-Sinclair of Golden Thread Alchemy all about her transition from part-time working witch, astrologer and death doula to a full-time Woo-based business owner! And, not only does Britt describe what this transition has been like-- and what it demands in terms of working hours, promotional/ unpaid efforts, and very early mornings-- but she also explores the strange devolution in human interaction (and mutual respect) that has been accelerating since the Covid-19 pandemic. Clients and customers of the Woo just aren't behaving the same anymore, requiring Woo-based business owners to make some necessary but unpleasant changes like: charging for previously free events, making rules at group workshops re: topics to not discuss, and requiring deposits or up-front payment for one-on-one sessions. But it's not all Debbie Downer sh*t! Within all of this minutea and restructuring are tremendous silver linings, perhaps the most important of which is that this cycle is separating the tourists and casuals from the serious, life-long, real deal experts. If you're a Woo-based business owner navigating these trying times, just remember: every day that you don't give up, you're passively taking market share from those that do! And that means that you'll get to continue to be of service, fulfill your life's purpose, and continue to "touch the Woo" every damn day! LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooBritt's LINKS: Website: https://www.goldenthreadalchemy.comSubstack: https://goldenthreadalchemy.substack.com/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with Cardsy B (of the Hex and the City podcast) all about what life is really like as a full-time working witch in residence at one of Manhattan's premier boutique hotels. And, while there's some literal magic in Cardsy's workdays, there is also the reality of the Business of Woo: the increasing exertion required to maintain healthy client boundaries, navigate parasocial dynamics, and process untethered-- and often nasty-- criticism that cuts to the core of your character. The bottom line? You can't make everybody happy all of the time, so Woo-based business owners and full-time psychic practitioners need to establish codified "shop policies" that enable them to stay consistent while conserving their precious energy while working with the general public.  In this episode, Rachel and Cardsy chat about what a psychic session is supposed to deliver. Spoiler alert: getting a tarot reading or psychic sessions isn't actually a good way to manage anxiety, nor can a reading or session actually shift the material reality of your life. It's just a diagnostic, and one that the client should come away from feeling empowered and ready to tackle the world of free will-- just with better data;) LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXCardsy B's LINKS: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cardsyb/Linktree: https://bio.cardsyb.com/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of show Nichole Bigley (of A Psychic's Story) about the constantly shifting, evolving and demanding business and technology landscape in the Business of Woo. Nichole hosts the #1 Spiritual podcast in the world, which might give folks the impression she has a big team of tech-savvy backroom geniuses at the ready on a minute-by-minute basis. But, as Nichole explains in this episode, that's just not how the Business of Woo really works! What's more: with the exponential increasing rate of change in every vector of modern life-- and especially within the realm of technology and related tools-- managing the ever-expanding world of social media platforms, online course systems, and much, much more is a full-time job all on its own! Never mind the fact that very few of us working psychics, shamans and energy workers aren't exactly tech experts to begin with-- unless, of course, you see a deck of tarot cards as a spiritual technology! But it's not all bad news-- there's a serious silver lining in the Business of Woo, which Nichole and Rachel dig into, offering solutions and several white pills on the future of our "industry"! LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXNichole's Website: https://www.apsychicsstory.com/about-a-psychics-story Looking for Angels Book: https://a.co/d/hIZK2f9 Nichole's IG: https://www.instagram.com/apsychicsstory/ Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with friend of the show Colleen Soisson (of Feather Mountain Ayurveda) about the common misconception that business owners-- even those in the Business of Woo-- are rich.  The reality of the Business of Woo is oceans away from how it's perceived by clients and consumers, and most practitioners make substantial, very unglamorous sacrifices to make their dream a daily reality. And not all of these sacrifices are financial-- there's all of the sweat equity, invisible and unexpected labor (like sweeping and cleaning your yoga studio every damn day), and the burden of taking the financial (and existential risk) of not having a steady paycheck from an employer. Colleen breaks down the cognitive dissonance between perception and reality, as well as outlines the real breakdown of daily work: how much is actually the Woo-based core competency vs. how much is the marketing, accounting, tech and other infrastructure enhancement efforts.  The long and the short of it? The Business of Woo is like an iceberg: what you see is just the tip of it!  So what can we all do about this strange perception paradigm? Well, to start, we can engage in honest conversations (like this one) AND make efforts to engage our Woo-based business owners with compassion and respect as they bust their hump to bring us the very best in spiritual services and technologies! LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachPlease support the Sponsors of The Skeptical Shaman Podcast: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck:https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXColleen Soisson Links: Website: https://www.feathermtn.comIG: https://linktr.ee/ColleenAyurvedaPlease note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti (of the Magick Without Tears Substack) about the daily grind of being a Woo-baed business owner-- and, more specifically, content creator.  For Woo-based business owners, these are not the "before times"-- and, as Marco has noted, it's a real challenge to make a living while sharing expertise and insights. As commoditized, race-to-the-bottom (not to mention often free) Woo-based content proliferates the marketplace, knowledgeable, experienced practitioners and authors are getting lost in the shuffle. After all: why pay for something you can get for free, right?  Well, the answer is: because it's NOT THE SAME as the free stuff. Not even a little bit. Said another way? You get what you pay for, and this matters exponentially when it comes to the high stakes world of Woo-- and our spiritual development and wellbeing! Marco gets vulnerable, honest and brave as he shares the daily struggle of a writer that has dedicated their life to sharing their intensive years of research, practice, education, and energy. Hopefully, this episode will dispel outdated myths about the reality of being a writer, practitioner, or Woo-based business owner, engendering some much-deserved empathy and support for those that dedicate their lives to this service.  The long and the short of it? Support your favorite writer, Substacker, and content creator with your dollars, referrals and recommendations. It makes a WORLD of difference for those trying to eek out a living while making a difference! Rachel's LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach Our Sponsors' LINKS: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343 The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo Marco's Links: Website: https://www.marcovisconti.orgSubstack: https://marcovisconti.substack.com/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this special, Business of Woo-themed episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) reconnects with the absolutely luminescent Yolanda Williams (of the Reiki Radio Podcast) to chat all things "Wusiness of Boo".  That's actually not a typo. Unfortunately, it's how Rachel pronounced "Business of Woo" before she could gather herself at the beginning of this episode! Up first? Yolanda opens up the proverbial kimono to get really real about expectations around pricing and payment as a reiki practitioner, dispelling outdated myths permeating the Business of Woo and explaining why there needs to be an even exchange of energy for this work. Yes, it's shocking but true: people actually expect Woo-based business owners to undertake their services-- including energy work, psychic sessions, and much, much more-- for FREE. Not sure how they think practitioners are going to pay rent or buy groceries...maybe they think psychics and reiki practitioners can just "manifest money" with invisible magic? Yah, I know. When you put it in writing, it sounds nuts, doesn't it? That's because it IS NUTS. Those of us in the Business of Woo spend years of our life and tens of thousands of dollars on continued education and certifications to bring these services to the marketplace-- not to mention the fact that this is how we make our living..and pay our bills! Yolanda also details how (and why) her Woo-based business has evolved over the years to support her as a whole human being-- and not just a human "doing". The Business of Woo is a super client-session and client-facing labor-intensive model, and while practitioners love their work and feel a deep sense of purpose, the potential for burnout is REAL. This means that practitioners need to not only charge a fair fee for their time and talent, but they also need to get creative about ways to disseminate their knowledge via online courses, digital downloads, and books and manuals.  Yolanda is the perfect guest to kick off this latest Business of Woo series of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, bringing a vulnerable and authentic-- but ultimately uplifting-- perspective to this dialogue.  Rachel's LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach Our Sponsors' LINKS: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooYolanda's LINKS: http://instagram.com/reikiradiohttp://theenergeticalchemist.comPlease note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

Well, well, well...look what we have here! A sweet treat wrapped up in a bonus episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast featuring none other than the final boss of neurodivergence himself: Scott Horton! Scott is the Director of the Libertarian Institute, Editorial Director of Antiwar.com, and the host of the Scott Horton Show.  He’s the author of the 2024 book Provoked: How Washington Started the New Cold War With Russia and the Catastrophe in Ukraine; the 2021 book Enough Already: Time to End the War on Terrorism; the 2017 book, Fool’s Errand:Time to End the War in Afghanistan;  and was the editor of the 2019 book The Great Ron Paul: The Scott Horton Show Interviews 2004–2019 and the 2022 book Hotter Than the Sun: Time to Abolish Nuclear Weapons. And I know what you're thinking: "Rachel...I thought you said you didn't want to make your work at TOTEM or on The Skeptical Shaman podcast political? So, like, what is this bullshi*t?" The answer is that it's not political, at least not for host Rachel White (Owner of TOTEM Readings). Rather, we wanted to engage Scott, who has recently been featured on Pierce Morgan, Breaking Points and the Tucker Carlson Show, to help us break out of our collective propaganda spell by sharing the tips, tricks and tools (as well as tidbits of researched, footnoted facts) he's picked up from doing more than 6,000 interviews and debates, all while not having a f*cking team. Yep, that's right. Scott Horton is the "Libertarian's Libertarian", rejecting the binary "uniparty" of United States' politics to, instead, be critical-- and skeptical-- of both. This, in turn, has given Scott a unique-- and very shamanic-- perspective, removing the burden of thought-terminating cliches and thought reform regimes to free him to think and speak for himself.  The results might be a bit abrasive, or even trigger you depending on where you fall in the political spectrum. But, having spent time with and corresponded with Scott over the last two years, Rachel can assert one thing for certain: Scott is kind, human, open-minded, funny, and a very good hang. And here's the best part: he's not trying to persuade you over to his side, because he doesn't have a side. In this episode, we chat about Scott's anti-war advocacy over the years, how Austin, TX has changed since Dazed and Confused, and how he's trying to contribute to the collective dialogue by just being honest (and insanely researched) about what he really, actually thinks.  Now, you don't have to be a Libertarian or right of center or even anti-war to take something away from this extra-long dialogue that explores the archetype of Prometheus appearing in our New Age-- and what that means for tyranny (spoiler alert: tyranny's f*cked!). You're a human with agency, and this "story" isn't over yet.  Nihilism is just another way to let the real bad guys win, so choose the opposite: stand up tall, speak your mind, and extend a hand to someone that thinks or feels differently from you. The more we converse and team up, the harder it will be to defeat us as a species! Besides: you might find a very pleasant surprise just on the other side.  (And make sure you read our little disclaimer below before listening to this episode. If you don't think it's for you, don't listen.) Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with her second client EVER when she opened TOTEM Readings 15 years ago in Chicago: Laura Hunnewell. Not only is Laura a friend of TOTEM and The Skeptical Shaman-- as well as a super-talented Licensed Esthetician-- she is a serious survivor, spending the last several years navigating serious health issues and a relentless chronic pain disorder. Laura has been diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, otherwise known as "the suicide disease" because of the life-altering levels of pain it brings. And, while she continues to get traditional medical treatment (including TWO craniotomies), she has also embraced some more Woo-based tools to help her get through the day with a sense of peace, optimism and joy. In this episode (and show notes, below) Laura shares multiple books, resources, daily practices, and more with Rachel and The Skeptical Shaman listeners. Laura is living reminder that you can be "in it" and still show up for others. Despite dealing with an acutely painful and debilitating heath condition, Laura is kind and present for others-- proof positive that NONE of us have an excuse to be a sh*t just because we're having a bad day;) What's more: this episode also reminds us to show up every day with intentionality and compassion. Many of our fellow humans are struggling with unseen challenges we know nothing about, and outward appearances can be deceiving.  So, when in doubt, be kind. Rachel's LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach Our Sponsors' LINKS: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343 The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo Books mentioned in this episode: The Places that Scare You by Pema ChodronDon't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph NgyuenCan't Stop Thinking by Nancy ColierWhen The Body Says No by Gabor MateThe Myth of Normal by Gabor MateMaybe This Will Help by Michelle Rial The Healing Power of Sound by Michell Gaynor Laura's Links: Laura's website: laurahunnewell.comLaura teaches here: www.yogaloftstudios.com Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) welcomes back fan favorite Allen Greenfield: famous ritual magician, Kabbalist, and former Thelemite, recently featured as a subject matter expert in Amazon's Hellier TV series. In a world of superficial spiritual LARPers, Allen Greenfield is a bonafide real deal-- a national treasure with all manner of arcane knowledge across his more than 60 years of hands-on esoteric experience. With legit certificates and bonafides from the Knights Templar, the Illuminati, and the World Association of Egyptian Obediences, Allen is a throwback to a time when sorcerers, magicians and practitioners dug deep into ancient, esoteric knowledge-- instead of just pulling an oracle card and issuing false profundities on Instagram. In this episode, Allen shares previously unheard insights into the unfolding Hellier magic and his book The Secrets of the Black Lodge Revealed: an unflinching look at the reality behind those bad boys fictionally featured in David Lynch's famous Twin Peaks TV series. Rachel's LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.comTOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.comRachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrachOur Sponsors' LINKS: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsGThe TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://www.amazon.com/TOTEM-Tarot-Deck-Rachel-White/dp/0578980126The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATXTOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coachingTOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-wooAllen's Links: Secrets of the Black Lodge Book: https://a.co/d/ecxH5qEFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReallyAllenGreenfield/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.

In this episode of The Skeptical Shaman podcast, host Rachel White (of TOTEM Readings) chats with writer and modern magician Marco Visconti all about the life of Thelema founder Aleister Crowley-- as well as the spiritual system (and its many, many tributaries) he left behind. What is Thelema? What is the Book of the Law? From where do these cornerstones of occult studies spring? What is sex magic? Who is Lady Babylon? How does one use the Lesser Key of Solomon?  (Word to the wise: DON'T use the Lesser Key of Solomon!) Marco helps Rachel and listeners of The Skeptical Shaman podcast bust some of the myths around this iconoclastic, larger-than-life figure-- ultimately (hopefully) separating fact from fiction with regard to his strangely long-lived religion. Rachel's LINKS: Rachel's Website: https://www.totemreadings.com TOTEM Readings Substack: https://totemrach.substack.com Rachel's Other Links: https://linktr.ee/totemrach Our Sponsors' LINKS: The TOTEM Flower Essence Deck: https://a.co/d/gw16LsG The TOTEM Tarot Deck: https://totemreadingsatx.etsy.com/listing/1492934343 The TOTEM Flower Essences: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TotemReadingsATX TOTEM Spiritual Transformation Coaching: https://www.totemreadings.com/coaching TOTEM Business of Woo Mentoring: https://www.totemreadings.com/business-of-woo Marco's Links: Website: https://www.marcovisconti.orgSubstack: https://marcovisconti.substack.com/Please note: The views and opinions expressed on The Skeptical Shaman do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the podcast. Any content provided by our guests, bloggers, sponsors or authors are of their opinion and are not intended to malign any religion, protected class, group, club, organization, business individual, anyone or anything. And remember: sticks and stones may break our bones, but words—or discussions of religious or spiritual topics-- will never hurt us.