Guest host Rich Berra (email) was joined by green witch Dodie Graham McKay for a conversation on her journey into witchcraft, the importance of building a relationship with nature, and magical activism. McKay described her path into witchcraft as gradual and rooted in early spiritual curiosity, shaped by both a religious upbringing and exposure to alternative ideas through books and counterculture influences. She framed witchcraft not as a sudden transformation, but as a practice that developed over time through learning, reflection, and experience. She noted that, central to her perspective, is the idea that all humans share a desire to connect with something greater than themselves, and that witchcraft offers one way of exploring that connection.
McKay emphasized that much of witchcraft is about perception, intention, and relationship rather than spectacle or fantasy. Concepts like spells and divination are grounded in focus, intuition, and reciprocal interaction with natural or spiritual forces, rather than dramatic, Hollywood-style magic. She pointed out that what people call "invisible realms" may not be mystical in a traditional sense, but could instead reflect limits of human perception, similar to how animals experience senses beyond our own. She expressed openness to skepticism and encouraged listeners to explore and decide for themselves rather than accept beliefs blindly.
McKay spoke about the importance of nature as both a spiritual and practical foundation for her work. She described witchcraft, especially her green approach, as deeply tied to environmental awareness, ecological responsibility, and a sense of interconnectedness among all living things. She also connected this philosophy to magical activism, emphasizing that meaningful change begins at the local level through small, intentional actions that support one's immediate community and environment before expanding outward.
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In the second half of the program, retired engineer Brooks Agnew discussed the Artemis mission, challenges of space travel, and the need for private industry in space. Agnew framed modern space exploration as both a technical challenge and a high-stakes competition shaped by national interests and emerging private industry. He emphasized the engineering realities of spaceflight, including radiation exposure, communication blackouts behind the moon, and the physical stress on astronauts. At the same time, he expressed concern that programs like Artemis are moving too quickly without sufficient infrastructure, arguing that foundational systems such as lunar satellites and communication networks should be established before attempting complex crewed missions.
Agnew highlighted the strategic and economic implications of returning to the moon, describing it as a frontier where government and private companies compete for influence and valuable resources, such as helium-3. He noted that private industry, such as SpaceX, has strong potential to advance lunar development due to its innovation and independent funding. He also described the emerging role of Space Force in securing space-based infrastructure and enabling future off-Earth commerce.
Agnew discussed the long-term vision for space development, including lunar bases, asteroid mining, and the integration of advanced technologies such as AI. He argued that the moon could serve as a launch point for deeper space exploration and as a hub for energy production, manufacturing, and computing, thanks to its environmental advantages. He also explored the physical demands of space travel on the human body and the need for better preparation and technology to support sustained missions.