Latest / Eye Opener Society / Witching in the 21st Century: A Deep Dive with The Bell Witch's Emma Swailes

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Witching in the 21st Century: A Deep Dive with The Bell Witch's Emma Swailes · Eye Opener Society

• 0:01
  Hello, everyone. Welcome back to Eye Opener Society.
• 0:05
  Welcome back to another bonus episode that I got for you. I appreciate everybody
• 0:10
  that tunes in, joins us here.
• 0:12
  It's really, really appreciated. You don't know how much I'm doing this bonus
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  episode because this episode took probably four years in the making.
• 0:22
  We reached out to each other and we wanted to do each other's show and just
• 0:28
  because of the time zones and getting up really early in the morning to,
• 0:32
  you know, kind of get everything together.
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  But we still talked about this and we were supposed to do this way back when
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  my stepdaughter Hannah was co-hosting the show.
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  Unfortunately, Hannah cannot be here, but I am here with someone who, I'll set this up.
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  Back when I started podcasting, I was searching podcasts to actually listen
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  to myself, something that was going to resonate with me.
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  Well, I tuned into the Bell Witch podcast and I remember it clearly because
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  it was probably right around late spring and where I was living then,
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  I was sitting outside in the peaceful air, relaxing,
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  had my speaker going, and I tuned into the Bell Witch podcast.
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  And I was immediately drawn in It was immediately relaxing to me And I do believe
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  the episode I was listening to Was actually talking about meditation And that's
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  why it resonated with me Well,
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  four years later I'm still listening to the Bell Witch Podcast It's an award-winning
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  podcast as well And I have for you The host of the show Emma Swales coming from Leeds, UK And.
• 1:48
  Emma, welcome to Eye Opener Society. How are you?
• 1:51
  Now then, amazing. Thank you so much for a lovely introduction.
• 1:55
  It's great to be here. It has taken me a long time because, as you know,
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  I am quite a busy, unorganised witch, but also I think my confidence wasn't there yet.
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  And this past six months, I've really dived into being brave and pairing on
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  other people's podcast episodes because it is hard when you've got your own.
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  You want to be in control of it.
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  I mean, I know you guys don't edit, but I definitely over-edit at times.
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  I'm quite strict with how I speak and stuff. So it is a leap of faith trusting
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  another host to make sure you come across okay.
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  I don't think you're going to have any problem whatsoever. This is a show where
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  you come, just relax and just be yourself.
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  And that's what I admire so much about you, that even though you are busy and
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  you do, you know, edit your own show and you have things under control.
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  And because of that, you did win an award.
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  So why don't we start with that? Why don't we start telling people a little
• 2:59
  bit about the Bell Witch Podcast and how it started and where it's gone and a little bit about it?
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  So I only really got into podcasts three years ago.
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  I was listening to one that abruptly stopped and I was sad it stopped.
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  So I was pestering the host like, why have you stopped?
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  And she said, I just don't want to do it anymore. Why don't you do one?
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  So I was a bit like, I totally should, but how? Because I know nothing.
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  So I've just been learning as I go and I absolutely adore
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  podcasting like you know don't you the the magic
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  it brings and the the ability
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  to use your voice and have people value that
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  voice is massively rewarding and
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  very magical from from me as a witch like it
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  really does enhance my spirituality and
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  my understanding of the world and I get feedback and I learn
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  from it and I meet people amazing people and
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  opportunities so I became am pretty obsessed
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  very quickly and now it's
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  something I want to do all the time and I am looking into being
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  a professional editor I've got a lot to learn but I'm I think I'm not too far
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  away from that now because in all honesty I think I enjoy the actual editing
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  process a tiny bit more than the recording I mean it's pretty balanced at the
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  moment but yeah I absolutely adore the Bellwitch podcast.
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  And it always grows and never ceases to amaze me what I learned.
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  Because I'm learning on the job of the listeners.
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  I'm not an expert. I learn as I go.
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  All these things are just so beautiful. Love it.
• 4:36
  Yeah. And your show, like I say, it's witching in the 21st century. And that means a lot.
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  I'm a practicing pagan. That's what I've been for, I don't know,
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  last maybe 20, 25 years or so.
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  My first wife was Wiccan. So I was...
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  You could intertwine the two of them together. But I think what people don't
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  realize is that whether it be Wiccan, whether it be witchcraft,
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  being a witch in the 21st century, it's really up to the individual.
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  And I think your show really emphasizes that. Am I correct?
• 5:13
  Yeah, absolutely. It's all about bringing confidence and ability to the person
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  who wants to live this magical life as a witch or as a pagan,
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  being aware of the surroundings and nature and growth.
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  And looking for answers within rather than outside of you because we all feel
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  so distracted and we're always looking for something.
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  And I think they all do get them or you realize it isn't out there, it's in here.
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  We just need to be reflective and unpack.
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  And if we can make mistakes, it's absolutely fine to make mistakes,
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  but don't hold on to those mistakes.
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  Release them and learn from it.
• 5:48
  Right, and I've learned that through your podcast. The solo episodes that you
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  do, especially some of the older ones I really admire because it's really true.
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  You live the entire life of being a witch, everything about you,
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  and you really spell it out for people, at least giving the ideas of directions people can take.
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  I admire that because at least, you know, it's not just a show about witchcraft
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  because unfortunately I think now,
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  even now in the 21st century, Most people are getting their ideas of Wiccan
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  or witchcraft through Hollywood And it's so distorted It is such.
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  Because all of them always associate the devil with witchcraft When the devil
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  doesn't even apply to witchcraft But you actually live And it's a very regular
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  lifestyle You're just incorporating nature and all into it, correct?
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  It is, yeah, just being mindful and doing things for yourself and not feeling bad for it.
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  I think especially these times people feel guilty for desiring things,
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  not necessarily consumerism, that's not what I'm talking about.
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  I'm talking about achieving their ideal life and grasping at things that seem
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  a little bit out of reach, but having that confidence to grab hold of them.
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  All these things I've learned through my witchcraft and my paganism,
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  I think I've always been a pagan because I've always
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  been really aware of the world and like you know
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  the trash being emptied and where does it go
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  you know so I was a pagan pretty much
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  all of my adult life the witchcraft came
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  about 10 years ago now so I'm well in there
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  I just love it absolutely love it it's
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  enabled me to heal because I've been depressed pretty
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  much my whole childhood and some of
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  my early teenage years until I
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  lost my mum at 19 I think that's that was like the catalyst
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  and it was a massive catalyst and I know if the listeners have heard some of
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  my episodes I speak about my mum a lot because she is a big inspiration to me
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  and she died over 20 years ago now and it's almost like how I remember has changed
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  because of my enlightenment that comes through witchcraft and spirituality.
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  So yeah, I think it's lovely because podcasting grows with you,
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  doesn't it? And you also change.
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  And like you mentioned, the early episodes, sometimes I listen back to them
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  and I cringe because some of it's junk.
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  And I'm obviously not know what I'm talking about.
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  And also a lot of my opinions have actually changed in the last three years,
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  especially the one that I.
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  Floppy disks and stuff you know like uh cyber
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  witchcraft because of my learning i've listened
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  to it recently and being like oh don't agree with that oh i don't agree with
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  that and you can't delete it because that's not your true self is it you can't
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  delete your history you shouldn't delete it but it is so curling when i listen
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  back wow it's funny i actually remember that episode i do remember listening to that, but it's fine.
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  I don't see any reason why opinions and ideas cannot change.
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  And that's part of paganism. It's part of witchcraft. We learn as we grow.
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  So there's nothing wrong with that. And yes, your mom, I remember hearing some of your episodes.
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  It's very touching because it brings the lineage.
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  For what you practice and all. And there's a bloodline, and you're keeping it alive, basically.
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  And I like that. I admire that.
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  And the other thing I admire about your show as well is the guests.
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  You always have some amazing guests. And no matter who it is that you have on,
• 9:40
  I'm always learning something from them.
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  I mean, it's a wonderful thing. Where do you find your guests?
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  In the beginning, I used to seek them out and message them online on their Instagrams. I've got books.
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  I'd email people who've written books.
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  And I did all right. I did maybe, I don't know, 50, 50 on that.
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  But now, I mean, I haven't invited anybody for ages because I have such a big
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  queue of amazing guests and witches and healers and spiritual people.
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  Oh my God, it is truly amazing. And I thank my lucky stars that people value
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  this voice enough to want to come on to the show.
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  I mean, I do find it a little bit stressful as well, because I'm really aware
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  that they're waiting either to be edited and come out or to be on the podcast.
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  And I get a bit flappy, but I am just me on my own doing this in my room.
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  We have no outside health whatsoever, so I am very slow.
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  But isn't it amazing that people actually want to come on? Oh my gosh, it blows my mind.
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  That is nice. But you do, you have that welcoming sense to you where people
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  do want to be on. And because of that,
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  You also won an award too, is that correct?
• 11:01
  I've won Pagans of the North Podcast of the Year twice now.
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  Twice, yeah. And I also won the Hub Hopper Awards a couple of years back,
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  which I thought was a good achievement because they didn't know me.
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  It's the people who run Pod Squeeze, which is like an editing tool.
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  They had their own competition, and it was based in America,
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  I think. and I think I was against a couple of other podcasts that were really
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  random, like a tech one and a soldier one.
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  It was a bit like, I'm not going to win this, the heck. And I won it.
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  It was just incredible. And I'm always applying for awards, but they're expensive.
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  I mean, I can't do many because it's like $200 a pop.
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  Yeah, at that price they should just hand you the award.
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  I know, it's madness, but I do really want a trophy, like I want to have a little
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  shiny trophy just on the sideboard here. So when I'm editing and I'm feeling
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  unconfident, I can just have a glance and it's there, all shiny.
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  Well, beyond that, you have the podcast itself. It's a huge achievement.
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  And like I said, I've watched you grow as well. And I'm one of your biggest
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  fans. I know you have tons of fans too as well.
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  And I got to say, I really appreciate the show just because,
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  again, you keep learning from it and you are so dedicated to it.
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  And the amount of effort that you do put into it, especially the editing,
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  because me, I'm completely lazy.
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  I just put it up on Pop Bean, let Pop Bean do the editing and boom,
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  it's up. And I'll have your episode up this Saturday. But it's amazing.
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  And that's the difference All of us that do these shows We all have our way
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  of doing it We all put our hearts, our souls, our energies into them And it always shows,
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  And yours always resonated with me because
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  of that You're doing an amazing job I'm always
• 13:01
  looking forward to the next episode I'll always share your
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  episodes And that's why I wanted to have you on
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  um who would you say was
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  your best guest or your favorite guest on your
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  show if i'm not on the spine it's a hard question
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  i've had so many different kinds
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  of people on it and i strive to
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  get especially men on it because i think the witchcraft
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  scene is very woman dominated which
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  isn't a bad thing but i do need the balance of guys
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  um so i think oh my
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  god i should have looked
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  at my list well well here's what i'll do so i'm not putting you on the spot
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  because all of your guests are amazing anyway they're all so different you know
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  really it's not just witchcraft it's also like different aspects of spirituality
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  yes that's very true but I'll tell you one of my favorite episodes, it wasn't that long ago.
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  You basically gave your audience kind of a guided tour.
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  Of your adventures in the uk you
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  visited all these places and museums and all and you
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  went ahead and gave kind of like a mini series on it
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  and i was so because it was like i was there with
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  you and your excitement actually came right through the airwaves and i felt
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  everything that you were feeling and i was amazed because it's i don't even
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  have a passport so for me to get over there i got to get a passport and all
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  and travel and but you put me there and you walk the audience through it And
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  that to me was an amazing show.
• 14:37
  Do you want to just touch on that one real quick before we go?
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  Yeah, so that was my gallivanting dance surf last summer for my big 40th because
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  turning 40 is a massive thing for me.
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  My mother didn't make it there. She died two weeks before her 40th.
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  So I always figured I'd even like rocket or proper sink and,
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  you know, like bottom of the barrel thing, midlife crisis.
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  Anyway, it went happily, it went up.
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  And a lot of that was because my lovely husband...
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  To organise this once-in-a-lifetime adventure down south right at the bottom
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  of the country. I'm in the middle of UK.
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  We went down to Cornwall where all the spirituality happens and there's Glastonbury
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  and there's caves everywhere and castle ruins.
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  It's really beautiful and very spiritual
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  and there's a very famous witchcraft
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  museum down there which I've wanted to go to for absolute
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  ages pretty much since I became a witch so when I were down there it inspired
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  me so much and I was writing notes on my phone as I went and sort of talking
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  into my recording stuff in hope to keep hold of the excitement of the time and
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  I think I did a good job of that,
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  it was it was amazing it was life-changing and I
• 15:57
  see why people are drawn to that area especially like Glastonbury
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  and stuff with the the sacred wells and
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  the Arthur of the round table you
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  know like the nice round table and stuff there's a lot of history there and
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  even though I'm proudly northern and I would never move from Yorkshire west
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  Yorkshire if I were going to move anywhere I'd probably move to the coast or
• 16:21
  move to Glastonbury because it really is magic down there It's beautiful.
• 16:26
  And it certainly is. And I only know that because of your episodes.
• 16:30
  You really brought the audience there and it was much appreciated.
• 16:33
  So why don't you tell my audience where you can be found?
• 16:37
  So I'm the Bell Witch podcast on Instagram, separated by underscores.
• 16:42
  My podcast is absolutely everywhere. I'm always working hard finding new hosts,
• 16:49
  new platforms, new apps to put it on.
• 16:52
  So if you Google the Bell Witch podcast, it should be there at the top amongst
• 16:56
  the actual Bell Witch, which was a thing I didn't know about when I picked my name.
• 17:02
  So I run with that And my trailer is Kind of taking the mick a little bit About
• 17:07
  not that Bell Witch There's Bell Witch There's two famous Bell Witches There is?
• 17:13
  I didn't know that I don't know.
• 17:17
  Not quite as scary It's true Very true,
• 17:22
  But yeah so everybody out there listening Please listen
• 17:26
  to the Bell Witch Podcast I think everybody has
• 17:29
  something To learn from it Whether you're curious about
• 17:32
  witchcraft Or if you
• 17:35
  are into the Wiccan lifestyle Or even witchcraft for that matter Or paganism
• 17:41
  You can always learn And Emma always brings a wonderful show It's very relaxing
• 17:47
  There's always fantastic guests on there So go ahead and find the Bell Witch Podcast,
• 17:53
  Listen, follow, like, and I want to seriously thank you for coming on the show.
• 18:00
  You're amazing. You are the friendly green witch, and I love it very much.
• 18:06
  And I really extend all of my listeners to you, everything. I thank you for this. I really do.
• 18:14
  Yeah, you're welcome. And back at you, because I do believe the Eye Opener Society
• 18:18
  was the first ever podcast to
• 18:21
  shout me out and actively support me when I had no idea what I was doing.
• 18:25
  And that really meant quite a big deal to me at the time and now,
• 18:29
  because I, you know, the beauty in podcasting and the magic is sharing the audiences
• 18:33
  and telling each other, all your audiences about each other.
• 18:37
  And I think sometimes that gets lost in the grand scheme of capitalism and,
• 18:42
  you know, like, I want to be successful and keep everybody down.
• 18:45
  No, no, let's change that. Let's raise everybody up because
• 18:48
  there's so much success and it's available to everybody and
• 18:52
  that's magic that certainly is and
• 18:55
  the whole world is magic and you are part of that magic again i thank you very
• 18:59
  much and i thank you the audience for tuning in very much uh appreciated and
• 19:05
  again the bell witch podcast find her on all platforms follow her on instagram
• 19:10
  follow her on facebook like follow and enjoy.
• 19:15
  Thank you again, and we'll see you again soon.