History of Alchemy Podcast - podcast cover

History of Alchemy Podcast

Travis J. Dowpodcastnik.com
A look at the history of alchemy and it's influence on science.

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Episodes

Episode 80: Magic Books and Rings

“Der Buddler” aka Mirko Gutjahr, took Travis on a tour of the University of Leipzig Library’s exhibit on magic books and to the Landesmuseum Halle to see magic rings in a “Rings of Power” exhibit. Mirko works at the Martin Luther house in Wittenberg, is an archeologist by trade with tons of stories of digs, and previously a curator at the museum in Halle, including an exhibit on the Sky Disc of Nebra (which we did an episode on for the History of Germany), he’s also the creator of the Secret Cab...

Dec 19, 20191 hr 3 min

New Book! Alchemy - A Search for Truth by Jo Herlihy

A listener, Jo Herlihy, wrote a book! From the early days of the Roman Empire through to the early 1700s, why did some of the most creative minds turn to alchemy? The search for how to make gold through this experimental practice will have been, without doubt, very alluring. But what else did people hope to discover? This is the story of the people, the books, the controversies and the dangers surrounding the secretive art of alchemy and the search for truth explored through the history of ideas...

Dec 19, 201910 min

Travis Makes Candy (help!)

Travis is no longer a tech writer and is now learning how to make candy in Germany, so he can start a business in Oregon. And he has a boyfriend, Toby. Pete Collman is working overtime creating Past Access on YouTube. We could use your help! → GoFundMe Candy Campaign: https://www.gofundme.com/f/travis039-handmade-candy GoFundMe short link (to share) gf.me/u/v48wqx Paypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/TravisDow Support through merch: podastnikshop.com Podcastnik’s newest project, Past Access:...

Oct 20, 201918 min

Pete and Trav's Podcastnik Year Six!

Pete and Travis have been podcasting for 6 years! With new shows like Past Access and Podcastnik and tons of guests and collaborations in the past year. We give a behind-the-scenes on what we've been working on and an overall State of the Podcast. Here's to 6 more years! (and yes, more History of Alchemy) A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook ...

Mar 03, 20191 hr 11 min

Introduction to Alchemy (New YouTube Video)

Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CamQeIXrWrM A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik Podcastnik YouTube | Podcastnik Audio Podcast ★ Support: PayPal | Patreon | Podcastnik Shop ★...

May 31, 201823 min

Episode 79: Biblical Figures as Alchemists

To properly understand several alchemical references, we need to look at a source all alchemists were familiar with: the Bible. This gives a big piece of the puzzle to understanding the world as alchemist saw things. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Face...

Jan 21, 201758 min

Episode 78: Year 4 of Alchemy

Despite our slacking of late, we've gotten a ton of new listeners, so we welcome the new curious minds, thank our faithful and patient listeners. We also review the year, look at the alchemy projects in the works, and things to come. Find all projects and contact information for Pete and Travis at http://podcastnik.com A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our...

Jan 14, 201715 min

Episode 77: Sir Francis Bacon

One of the so-called “Fathers of the Modern Scientific Method” also still believed in the principles of alchemy. Like, a lot. Sir Francis Bacon made it all the way to Chancellor of England. Some say he even gave Shakespeare a hand. http://historyofalchemy.com (http://historyofalchemy.com/) for more topics A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Pas...

Nov 20, 201656 min

Episode 76: Abufalah, Soul Dust, and making a Basilisk

Abufalah relates a great tale of Solomon and how he demonstrates his knowledge of the philosopher's stone to the queen of Sheeba. Plus we tell you how to make a Basilisk. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Insta...

Feb 27, 201649 min

Episode 75: Robert Olsen and I Meet Again

Robert Olsen and I did an AMA together on reddit's /r/AskHistorians. The AMA was its own episode (Episode 20). It was great to pick the guy's brain and just chat alchemy after two years. And yes, this one is 2:40 mins long. We had a ton of fun, but don't forget there's a pause button. The AMA itself is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1bkyi9/wednesday_ama_magic_alchemy_and_the_occult/ A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy...

Feb 09, 20162 hr 40 min

Episode 74: Andreas Libavius

Andreas Libavius was a Golden Age alchemist who brings us a step closer to modern chemistry—but still defended the possibility of transmutation. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik Podcastni...

Jan 19, 201642 min

Inside the Secret Cabinet Podcast with der Buddler

What's it like being a history podcaster in Germany? Today we take a break from alchemy and celebrate the launch of the Secret Cabinet Podcast in English, and since I also do a podcast in German, we compare notes on the differences in German and English podcast scenes. Der Buddler (German for "the digger") works in the Martin Luther house in Wittenberg, and was a great help with the Faust episode, as well as being interviewed for the History of Germany podcast on Martin Luther's 95 thesis (the a...

Aug 29, 201541 min

The Illusion: Alchemy Reborn Through the Occult Revival

How did alchemy get to be where it is today? How exactly did it change from it's death to now? This is the meta historiographic episode: history of the history of alchemy. We've often talked about the bias of alchemy through the occult revival. But now let's talk about the occult revival directly. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access...

Aug 15, 201516 min

Episode 71: Interview with Tim Wilkerson, Author of Alchemy Astrology Handbook

Tim Wilkerson is author of the Alchemy Astrology Handbook, has a related blog, and even a calendar for helping out with alchemy. If you catch him in time, he'll be teaching herbal alchemy at the Midwest Herb Fest and School. Tim will also be speaking at the International Alchemy Guild's Rocky Mountain Alchemy Conference Summer 2016, in Denver. It was a privilege to have our first alchemist on the show :) (see http://historyofalchemy.com for links to the above) A show by podcastnik.com — visit th...

Aug 12, 201522 min

Episode 70: Distillation in Alchemy

Next time you enjoy that cocktail or drink at a bar, tip your imaginary hat to the alchemists of yore. This episode is the extended version of the History of Alchemy's segment of the History Podcasters' Network collage on alcohol. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @Alchemy...

Aug 04, 201520 min

Renaissance Occult: Pico della Mirandola

Pico della Mirandola with the patronage of the Medici helped bring in the Renaissance (if there is such a thing) A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik Podcastnik YouTube | Podcastnik Audio Pod...

Jul 20, 201531 min

Laszlo from the China History Podcast chats over Tea

Laszlo from the China History Podcast is temporarily in the Bay Area and swung by for tea. We had a chat about history and podcasts. The questions came from the HISTORY PODCASTS Facebook group. And Laszlo's excellent podcast is at http://chinahistorypodcast.com A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis...

Jun 14, 201520 min

Phlogiston: Johann Joachim Becher

Johann Joachim Becher formulated the Phlogiston theory of combustion, and it lasted over a century. He also transmuted gold out of the mud of the Danube. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik ...

May 28, 201526 min

History in 5 Minutes Podcast Alchemy Interviews: Isaac Newton, al-Ghazali, Ge Hung

I gave three interviews for the History in 5 Minutes Podcast a while ago. In case you missed them, here they are! For more about that podcast: http://michaelrank.net/ A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram...

May 24, 201533 min

Bohemican YouTube Channel: Prague Alchemy I & II

Join us on a tour of a real alchemist's lab in Prague! See the youtube video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amaOGpbAarg Otherwise you're missing out! This is a video! A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — In...

May 07, 201515 min

Johann Rudolf Glauber

Johann Rudolf Glauber was perhaps the first chemical engineer. He was known for his "Glauber's Salt" and paved the way for gold ruby glass. http://historyofalchemy.com/list-of-alchemists/johann-rudolf-glauber/ A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Po...

Apr 22, 201526 min

Alchemy - Making a Deal with the Devil: Faust

I got the inside scoop on the Faust house in Wittenberg, but let's back up and go over the legend and also the oldest alchemical vessels found in Europe. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik ...

Mar 09, 201534 min

Archimastry - Giovanni Panteo

Different alchemists had different definitions for archimy , but for Giovanni Panteo archimy was the metallurgical aspect of alchemy, while alchemy could be more spagyric or biological. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy ...

Jan 25, 201520 min

Alchemy and the History of Science

The AskHistorians subreddit (as in a forum on reddit.com) has hundreds of historians you can ask any sort of question on history you want. It's a fantastic resource, and I'm proud to a be member over there (though I'm no historian). They also started their own history podcast where they interview some of their members, and this time they interviewed me. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concep...

Jan 17, 20151 hr 3 min

Cornelis Drebbel

Even in Golden Age of Alchemy, Cornelis Drebbel stands alone as a sort of Ben Franklin or Emmett Brown character.He created the first submarine, red dye, and was famous for him continuous mobile machines that landed him in the courts of the likes of James I of England and Rudolf II of the Holy Roman Empire. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, P...

Jan 14, 201557 min

Elizabeth I and Alchemy

Elizabeth I of England, the last of the Tudors, is more than an interesting footnote in the history of alchemy. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik Podcastnik YouTube | Podcastnik Audio Podc...

Nov 23, 201434 min

Alchemists' Halloween Special

Just a few alchemists' Halloween ghost stories: and a few more on the History of Germany Podcast and the Secret Cabinet Podcast (both on podcastnik.com ) A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik ...

Oct 26, 201422 min

Richard and Isabella Ingalese

A fun legend of Alchemists from around the turn of the century in California. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastnik Podcastnik YouTube | Podcastnik Audio Podcast ★ Support: PayPal | Patreon | ...

Oct 18, 201414 min

Homunculus - An Alchemical Cornerstone

Philosopher's Stone, Elixir of Life, but also: Homunculus. Some alchemists were more after this than gold, and in some theories a homunculus can be used as a philosopher's stone. A homunculus is basically an artificial man. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast...

Oct 12, 201439 min

Heinrich Khunrath

Heinrich Khunrath was a physician, alchemist, and all around interesting guy. He was also a sort of bridge between John Dee's philosophy and Rosicrucianism. A show by podcastnik.com — visit the site for all projects and news. Visit HistoryofAlchemy.com for more background on the alchemists and concepts of this podcast. ☞ Check out our new show, Past Access ! ( YouTube Link ) ☜ Twitter @Travis J Dow | @Podcastnik | @AlchemyPodcast — Facebook Podcastnik Page | Alchemy Podcast — Instagram @podcastn...

Sep 28, 201418 min
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