I Might Believe in Faeries

Aaron Irber

This is a podcast about stories, myths and Catholicism. Stories are how we orient ourselves in the world. In Catholicism, we believe in the Greatest Story: Christ crucified and resurrected. We participate in His story through ritual worship; the liturgy. Even in the Catholic Church, these truths are often forgotten or ignored. My mission for this podcast is to explore storytelling, myths, and how these fit into Catholicism. I will cover Catholic fantasy and science fiction authors, mythology, folklore and the Catholic faith.

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Today · 1 hr 51 min
Gene Wolfe’s Soldier of the Mist (ft. Marc Aramini)
In this episode, I am joined again by writer and Gene Wolfe expert, Marc Aramini. Marc and I have an in-depth discussion of the first book of Wolfe’s Latro series, The Soldier of the Mist. The events of the book take place in 479 B. C. shortly after the battle of the 300 Spartans (and thousands of their slaves) fighting against the Persian army at Thermopylae. Latro is a mercenary in the Persian army who suffers from a head wound that gives him amnesia. We discuss the events of the first book, the frame narrative, and the characters. The Chapter Guide to Gene Wolfe’s Latro Novels by Michael Andre-Driussi can be found here. The physical editions of Marc’s first two books are now available on Amazon: * Between Light and Shadow: An Exploration of the Fiction of Gene Wolfe, 1951-1986 * Beyond Time and Memory: An Exploration of the fiction of Gene Wolfe, 1987-1990 Marc’s YouTube channel can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@marcaramini9794 Marc can be found on Twitter.com at @marc_aramini ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
August 20 · 1 hr 54 min
The Man Who Was Thursday (ft. Gregorio Montejo)
The Man Who Was Thursday was written by Gilbert Keith Chesterton in 1908 and is described as a metaphysical thriller. It is also one of the greatest Catholic novels of the 20th Century. Gabriel Syme, a poet detective, infiltrates a secret society of anarchists to try to foil their plans of world destruction. Gregorio Montejo returns as a guest to discuss this miraculous novel. We discuss Chesterton’s use of paradox, why the novel is called a nightmare, the color red, and so much more! Follow Gregorio on Twitter.com @KtistecP Do yourself a favor and subscribe to Gregorio’s substack Past Masters and read his essay on Chesterton here: ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
July 31 · 1 hr 15 min
What is Astrology? (ft. Deacon Seraphim/Richard Rohlin)
What is astrology? Is it different from astronomy? How was astrology viewed in the ancient world and Christian Middle Ages? What about astrology is forbidden to Christians and is there anything about it that is good, true, and beautiful? Deacon Seraphim (Richard) Rohlin returns to the show to discuss all of this and more. Find Deacon Rohlin on Twitter.com @richardrohlin The Symbolic World: https://www.thesymbolicworld.com/ Resources: Catholic Answers: Steer Clear of Modern Astrology: https://www.catholic.com/qa/steer-clear-of-modern-astrology Jimmy Akin: Thomas Aquinas and the Occult: https://jimmyakin.com/2020/06/thomas-aquinas-on-the-occult.html Origen and the Life of the Stars: A History of an Idea (Oxford Early Christian Studies): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0198263619?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback The Heavenly Writing: Divination, Horoscopy, and Astronomy in Mesopotamian Culture: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0521716616?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
July 15 · 1 hr 15 min
Tolkien's Invasion of Dragons (ft. Ian Gunn/Thoughts on Tolkien)
Independent Tolkien scholar, Ian Gunn, joins the show to discuss an article he wrote titled, “Tolkien’s Invasion of Dragons”, which was published in Mythlore in 2025. Have the dragons disappeared from the world or are they still lurking about? What do we even do with one if we stumble across one in our garden? Ian and I discuss Tolkien’s belief that tales of heroic myths and legends can revivify society and restore the “memory of the high and the perilous.” We don’t want to be invaded by dragons, but sometimes that is exactly what we need. “Tolkien’s Invasion of Dragons” (Mythlore 2025): https://dc.swosu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3375&context=mythlore Joie de Vivre Journal: https://www.jdvjournal.com/ Ian Gunn can be found on Substact: Thoughts on Tolkien Ian Gunn can be found on Twitter.com @tolkienthoughts ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
June 15 · 1 hr 2 min
Fairies: A History (ft. Dr. Francis Young)
What are the mysterious beings known as fairies? Can they be defined? How have fairy encounters in Europe changed over the centuries? Dr. Francis Young returns to the show to discuss his new book, Fairies: A History, by Polity Books (2026). Dr. Young traces fairies and fairy encounters from pagan Europe all the way to the 21st Century. He argues that it is not useful to think of fairies as beings that can be proved and documented scientifically, but experienced through a type of perception. Have we moderns lost this type of perception? What does Tolkien’s conception of Faerie have to do with all of this? How did the Reformation and the Enlightenment impact fairy belief? We discuss all of this and more in this episode of IMBIF. Fairies: A History: https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=fairies-a-history--9781509566778 Dr. Young can be found on Twitter.com @DrFrancisYoung His substack is Francis Young ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
May 15 · 57 min
Technocracy (ft. C. A. Shoultz)
A bold, new story for the 21st Century. Charles Shoultz has had the dream to write a modern story that would rival the great tales of old. He has finally begun to release his story in pieces, like an old magazine serial. Let me tell you, he does not disappoint. Writer and poet, C. A. Shoultz joins me on the show to discuss his first book, Technocracy. We talked about his background in poetry as well as the background to his story. This has the potential to be something big, so check it out! Follow Shoultz on substack: C.A. Shoultz The website to find the story is here: https://www.cashoultz.com/ Find C. A. Shoultz on Twitter.com @HarrierMagnus ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
March 30 · 1 hr 23 min
The Mills of the Gods (ft. Tim Powers & iSamwise)
In this episode, I am joined by the award winning fantasy author, Tim Powers, and my friend, iSamwise, to discuss Tim’s newest book, The Mills of the Gods (Baen 2025). We talked about pagan gods, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein, Pablo Picasso, Alexander Scriabin, and all of the weird things going on in post-WWI Paris. Enjoy! The Mills of the Gods can be found here: https://www.baen.com/Chapters/9781668073018/9781668073018.htm iSamwise has a YouTube channel that can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@iSamwise ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack for updates on the show, essays, and more! Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
March 24 · 1 hr 15 min
Tolkien's Darkest Tale (ft. Thomas Mirus)
In this special episode, I am a guest on Thomas Mirus’ Catholic Culture podcast. We discussed Tolkien’s darkest story, The Children of Hurin. Thomas gave me permission to publish the episode on my own show as well. The original episode was published here: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/tolkiens-darkest-tale-w-aaron-irber/ Thomas Mirus can be found on Twitter.com @CatholicPods and on Substack Thomas Mirus Here are the original notes from the Catholic Culture podcast: The darkest, and perhaps most underrated, story J.R.R. Tolkien ever wrote was the tale of Túrin Turambar, a great man of the First Age of Middle-Earth, whose life was ruined by the curse of Morgoth (Tolkien’s Satan-figure) and by his own pride. The tale, which resembles a Greek tragedy, was given its longest and most satisfying version in the posthumously published book The Children of Hurin. Aaron Irber, host of a podcast “about stories, myths, and Catholicism”, joins Thomas to discuss this underappreciated work by Tolkien. -Aaron’s podcast, I Might Believe in Faeries Theme music: “Franciscan Eyes”, written and performed by Thomas Mirus. Download the Catholic Culture Podcast soundtrack. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
February 15 · 1 hr 29 min
The Church, Morello, & Hermes (ft. Gregorio Montejo)
Today, I am joined by my friend Gregorio Montejo to discuss a subject that has caused a minor controversy in the world of re-enchantment and Traditionalist Catholicism. I am talking about a book titled Mysticism, Magic & Monasteries: Recovering the Sacred Mystery at the Root of Reality (Os Justi Press, 2024) by Dr. Sebastian Morello. In this book, Dr. Morello argues for the integration (possibly re-integration) of neoplatonic and hermetic thought into the Church. What does this mean? What does this look like? We discuss all this, critiques of the book, and much more. Gregorio Montejo can be found on Twitter.com @KtistecP Gregorio’s substack, Past Master, can be found here. Books by Sebastian Morello: Mysticism, Magic & Monasteries can be found here. The World as God’s Icon can be found here. Morello’s Critics and Responses: Hermetic Tradition or Catholic Tradition? A Critique of Sebastian Morello by Matthew Minerd, Thomas Mirus, Matthew Scarince Dialogos on Magic with Drs Morello and Minerd from The Meaning of Catholic This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
January 15 · 1 hr 7 min
2025 Year in Review (ft. Susannah Black Roberts)
In this episode, Susannah Black Roberts returns to the show to discuss the best books we read in 2025. We talked a lot about C. S. Lewis, Philip Pullman, Patrick O’Brian, Tim Powers, and others. We discussed how some authors are able to depict “holiness” in their books and what that can do to the reader. Check it out! Susannah is the editor of both Plough and Mere Orthodoxy and she can be found on Twitter.com @suzania ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
January 1 · 1 hr 4 min
Lud-in-the-Mist (ft. Carla Arnell)
“Master Nathaniel Chanticleer, the actual head of the family, was a typical Dorimarite in appearance; rotund, rubicund, red-haired, with hazel eyes in which the jokes, before he uttered them, twinkled like a trout in a burn.” I am joined by Carla Arnell, Professor of English at Lake Forest College, to discuss the almost unknown fantasy novel, Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees. We discuss the plot of the book, the characters and the Catholic sacramental themes that permeate the novel. Neither of us are kidding when we say this is one of our top favorite fantasy novels of all time. Professor Arnell wrote a paper on Lud titled, Lud-in-the-Mist as Memento Mori: Existential Anxiety and the Consolations of an Aesthetic Theology in Hope Mirrlees’s Fantasy Novel. Professor Arnell’s faculty page: https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/faculty/arnell Divine Representations: The Rise of the Mystical Novel in Twentieth-Century England https://sunypress.edu/Books/D/Divine-Representations ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Dec 15, 2025 · 54 min
Liturgical Tolkien (ft. Ben Reinhard)
A lot of ink has been spilled over the Catholic and religious underpinnings of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Pretty much everyone knows this by now, but very few have probed the depths of how the liturgy and the Catholic Mass influenced the very foundation of Middle Earth. In this episode, Professor Ben Reinhard joins the show to explore Tolkien’s deep liturgical roots in his book, The High Hallow: Tolkien’s Liturgical Imagination. We also discuss how to initiate a hobbit into true religion! You just need Elves and the oldest song-slinging being in Middle Earth (Tom). The High Hallow: https://stpaulcenter.com/store/the-high-hallow-tolkiens-liturgical-imagination ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby This podcast and its content may not be used for training and developing A.I. systems without permission. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Nov 24, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
The Death of Rabelais (ft. Jane Scharl)
*This episode contains content that may not be suitable for children. Essayist, poet, and playwright, Jane Scharl returns to the show to discuss her new play, The Death of Rabelais. This is the second in a loose trilogy featuring France’s infamous humanist and humorist, François Rabelais. In this play, Rabelais finds himself lost in a snow storm on the Eve of Epiphany only to find that Death awaits him. We discuss the play and the different approaches artists and critics take when discerning the different levels of meaning in a work of literature. Jane Scharl’s website: https://jcscharl.com/ Substack: J.C. Scharl Wiseblood Books Link: https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p169/The_Death_of_Rabelais%3A_A_Play%2C_Jane_Clark_Scharl.html ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Oct 15, 2025 · 1 hr 25 min
Something Wicked This Way Comes (ft. Brad Birzer & Thomas Salerno)
It is spooky season when the veil between the material and spiritual worlds becomes thin. Halloween is right around the corner and monsters prowl about the edge of society often taking the forms of something either enticing or frightening. Church music plays backwards and carnivals arrive at 3:00 AM. In this episode of IMBIF, I discuss Ray Bradbury’s classic horror story, Something Wicked This Way Comes, with Brad Birzer and Thomas Salerno. A dark carnival arrives at a small midwestern town and two teenage boys are faced with it’s terrors and temptations. We talk about Bradbury’s beliefs, the nature of the carnival, of fatherhood, and of friendship. Is this a Christian book? What is Mr. Dark? Is he human or something else? What is it about Bradbury’s fiction that is so compelling even if we don’t share his worldview? All this and more in this exiting episode. Brad Birzer can be found on Twitter.com at @bradleybirzer and his website is: https://spiritofcecilia.com/ Thomas Salerno can be found on Twitter.com at @Salerno_Thomas and his books can be found here: https://bookstore.wordonfire.org/products/riddle-of-the-tongue-stones************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 30, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
A Tim Powers Deep Dive (ft. iSamwise)
Last month, I was a guest on iSamwise’s YouTube channel and we discussed, you guessed it, Tim Powers! Check it out! iSamwise kindly shared his audio file with me so I could share it with all of you. Link to iSamwise’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@iSamwise ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Sep 15, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis (ft. Jason Baxter)
In this episode, I am joined by medieval scholar and author, Jason Baxter. Dr. Baxter is the Director of the Center for Beauty and Culture at Benedictine College and the author of many books, including a new translation of Dante and The Medieval Mind of C. S. Lewis. Dr. Baxter and I discussed The Medieval Mind, C. S. Lewis as medievalist, and why he had a medieval mind. We also talk about how Lewis’ thoughts could be applied to modern science. Everyone needs to go out and read Lewis and then read Dr. Baxter’s The Medieval Mind. For a list of his books, check out Jason Baxter’s website: https://www.jasonmbaxter.com/ ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Aug 18, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
The Numinous in Fiction (ft. Susannah Black Roberts & Jane Scharl)
Two wonderful guests return to the show, the editor of Plough and Mere Orthodoxy, Susannah (Black) Roberts, and poet and playwright, Jane Scharl. We discuss Rudolf Otto’s The Idea of the Holy and the “Numinous”, which is a term he coined in that book. The goal of this discussion is to talk about the concept of the Numinous and where it can be found in fantasy fiction. We specifically discuss the works of C. S. Lewis, Gene Wolfe, Tim Powers, Kenneth Grahame, Arthur Machen, and George MacDonald. We also discuss mysticism in Christianity, holy fear, and much more. If you want to know how an experience of the Numinous can unmake you, then check this episode out! Susannah can be found on Twitter.com at @suzania and her work can be found at https://www.plough.com/ https://mereorthodoxy.com/ Susannah Black Roberts (substack) Jane can be found on Twitter.com at @JcScharl and she writes at J.C. Scharl (substack). Jane’s poetry and plays can be found on her website, https://jcscharl.com/ ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Jul 15, 2025 · 1 hr 16 min
THE Cinderella Story (ft. Rosie Liljenquist)
Cinderella is one of the oldest folktales in the world. Academic librarian, Rosie Liljenquist (Rosy Rambles), joins the show to discuss this story. We compare the different versions told by Charles Perrault, The Brothers Grimm, and Giambattista Basile. We explore the religious symbolism of the Grimm’s version and I even try to rehabilitate the wicked step-sisters. Enjoy! Rosie’s work, including the essays mentioned during the show, can be found here: ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack - for updates on the show, essays, and more! Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 30, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
St. Hildegard's Garden (ft. Leila Lawler)
Author and cultural commentator, Leila Lawler, joins the show to discuss the book, St. Hildegard's Garden: Recipes and Remedies for Healing Body and Soul. We talk about St. Hildegard of Bingen, her views on medicine, healing and the cosmos, what she means by “hot, cold, moist, and dry,” and what modern people (New Agers, Feminists, etc.) get wrong about her. Leila Lawler’s website is here: https://likemotherlikedaughter.org/ Follow Leila on Twitter.com @_Leila ************************************************************************************************************* Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack for updates on the show, essays, and more! I Might Believe in Faeries is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Donate to my Patreon - I Might Believe in Faeries https://www.patreon.com/imightbelieveinfaeries Like my Facebook page - I Might Believe in Faeries Battle Of The Creek by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Logo Art by Linnea Kisby ************************************************************************************************************* This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aaronirber.substack.com/subscribe
Jun 22, 2025 · 1 min
The Ape & The Monkey
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit aaronirber.substack.com This video is about how ancient and medieval people viewed apes and monkeys. *************************************************************************************************************Follow me on Twitter @AaronIrber Subscribe to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@imightbelieveinfaeries7563 Subscribe to my Substack for updates on the show, ess…

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