Occult Confessions
Hosted by Occult Confessions
An occultism scholar and theatre professor narrates the secret history of supernatural beliefs, often with the help of a troupe of actors.
This is a history podcast focusing on the esoteric, supernatural, and religious, presented with a distinct theatrical flair. Dr. Rob C. Thompson delivers well-researched narratives on topics from Japanese Buddhism to Western occult themes in pop culture. The show's format is fluid, shifting between solo narration, expert interviews, and co-hosted discussions featuring dramatic readings from his 'Alchemical Actors'.
“The show's use of 'The Alchemical Actors' to re-enact scenes and the host's background as a theatre professor give it a unique, dramatic quality. This blend of academic research and radio-drama performance sets it apart from more conventional history podcasts.”
Who hosts this show
Occultism scholar Dr. Rob C. Thompson hosts an in-depth exploration of supernatural mysteries, beliefs, and rituals. He is a professor of theatre at Chesapeake College and artistic director of the Todd Performing Arts Center. He is often joined by the Alchemical Actors, a theatre troupe that re-enacts historical moments from the paranormal, in a blend of research, ritual, and radio drama. The podcast is a production of the Odd Act Theatre Group, LLC, where Thompson previously served as executive director.
Credentials & credits
- Ph.D. in Theatre Performance Studies, University of Maryland
- Professor of Theatre, Chesapeake College
- Artistic Director, Todd Performing Arts Center
- Author, publications in 'Literature and Theology' and 'The Journal of American Culture'
- M.A. in Theatre Performance Studies, University of Maryland
- B.A. in Theatre Performance and English Literature, Susquehanna University
Other ventures
- Odd Act Theatre Group
What kind of podcast
- Country
- United States
- Region
- usa
When new episodes drop
- 0130.6: Sex, Snakes, and Japanese DemonsJun 26, 2026 · 44 min
- 0230.5: Anime and EvangelionJun 12, 2026 · 1h 28m
- 0330.4: The Pure Land (Part Two)May 29, 2026 · 51 min
- 0430.3: The Pure Land (Part One)May 15, 2026 · 52 min
- 0530.2: Shingon or Japanese Esoteric BuddhismMay 1, 2026 · 56 min
- 0630.1: Shinto or Japan's Ancient SpiritsApr 17, 2026 · 1h 02m
- 0729.8: Murder for ResurrectionApr 3, 2026 · 1h 01m
- 083.2: Stranger Ride, Stranger Things ReviewApr 2, 2026 · 1h 22m
Notable episodes
- 0130.5: Anime and Evangelion
An example of the show's occasional interview format, where the host and an expert break down occult and religious symbolism in popular culture.
- 0230.6: Sex, Snakes, and Japanese Demons
Demonstrates the host's solo narrative style, using a satirical 'children's show' persona to explore dark folklore from the Konjaku Monogatarishū.
- 0330.4: The Pure Land (Part Two)
A representative episode of the co-hosted narrative format, tracing the history of a major branch of Buddhism with reactions from the Alchemical Actors.
What you'll be asked on this show
This is not a typical interview podcast, as most episodes are narrative-driven. When interviews do occur, Dr. Rob provides a long, detailed narrative introduction before engaging the guest. The conversation then serves to clarify cultural terms and provide expert context on the pre-established topic, blending his prepared script with conversational tangents rather than a traditional back-and-forth Q&A. [lW-IfWccrtk]
The format varies significantly, from solo narrative episodes and co-hosted historical discussions to occasional expert interviews. The host, Dr. Rob, sometimes employs a satirical, condescending persona for comedic effect, juxtaposing a gentle tone with dark subject matter. [bGTi9HxmSBQ] Episodes often feature musical interludes and a recurring pledge for the 'Secret Order of Alchemical Actors'. [lW-IfWccrtk]
Questions Occult Confessions keeps coming back to
6 cataloguedIf you're going on this show as a guest, expect some version of each of these. Each note explains when Occult Confessions reaches for it.
process
2- Q.01
“What does the term 'weeb' mean?”
Asks the guest to define cultural slang for the audience early in the conversation. [lW-IfWccrtk]
- Q.02
“Is it true that 'otaku' is a formal way of saying 'you'?”
Drills down on the etymology of a key cultural term being discussed. [lW-IfWccrtk]
industry
2- Q.01
“Is [this show] still one of the most popular in Japan?”
Uses the guest to establish the cultural significance and longevity of the topic. [lW-IfWccrtk]
- Q.02
“What about in the West? Are we less familiar with this?”
Contrasts the topic's reception in Japan versus the West to highlight cultural differences. [lW-IfWccrtk]
future
1- Q.01
“What anime are ten-year-olds into today?”
Pivots from a historical discussion to understand current, modern trends related to the episode's theme. [lW-IfWccrtk]
backstory
1- Q.01
“What did you like about [the last episode's topic]?”
Engages co-hosts at the start of an episode to recap the previous installment and create continuity. [77h6yDgmTsE]
Signature segments
- · The 'Secret Order of Alchemical Actors' pledge [lW-IfWccrtk]
- · Theatrical re-enactments of historical events
- · Greeting listeners as 'awesome occult friends' [bGTi9HxmSBQ]
- · Adopting satirical host personas for specific topics [bGTi9HxmSBQ]
- · Checking in with co-hosts about previous episodes [77h6yDgmTsE]
Topics covered repeatedly
Who gets booked here
Guests are typically subject-matter experts brought on to clarify cultural trends or provide deeper context on a specific topic, such as an anime expert explaining fan terminology and cultural reception. [lW-IfWccrtk]
- Andrew Mimson 30.5: Anime and Evangelion
Where to find this show
Audience & reach
The show appears to be primarily supported by its audience through direct donations and Patreon. [bGTi9HxmSBQ, lW-IfWccrtk]
Subscriber and view counts are pulled live from YouTube and re-verified on a 30-day cycle. Listener estimates for the RSS feed aren't published here unless they're host-verified.
Pitch Occult Confessions
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People also ask
- Who is the host of Occult Confessions?
- The host is Dr. Rob C. Thompson, an occultism scholar and professor of theatre.
- What is the format of the show?
- The format varies, including solo-narrated historical deep dives, expert interviews, and co-hosted discussions featuring 'The Alchemical Actors' performing scenes. [bGTi9HxmSBQ, lW-IfWccrtk, 77h6yDgmTsE]
- Is this podcast still active?
- Yes, the podcast releases episodes approximately twice a month.
- Who are the 'Alchemical Actors'?
- They are a theatre troupe, associated with the Odd Act Theatre Group, that joins the host to re-enact historical moments and provide commentary.
- Where can I listen to the podcast?
- Occult Confessions is available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and other major podcast directories.
- What are Rob C. Thompson's credentials?
- He holds a Ph.D. in Theatre Performance Studies from the University of Maryland and is a professor of theatre at Chesapeake College.
Built from the show's public RSS feed, YouTube, the host's own websites, and the cited sources below. Computed and AI-extracted fields are labelled. Facts only — no private info, no fabrication, no transcripts republished.
Sources & how this page was built
This page is AI-assisted, grounded in the public sources cited below, and host-verifiable. We publish facts only; we do not republish transcripts. If anything here is wrong, the host can claim and correct the page above.Model: gemini-2.5-pro · high confidence
- [01]Occult Confessions (Podcast) - Podchaserpodchaser.com
- [02]Semester Opens with Seven New Full-time Faculty Members - Chesapeake Collegechesapeake.edu
- [03]Robert C. Thompson - Responseoah.org
- [04]Odd Act Theatre Group - Maryland State Arts Councilmsac.org
- [05]Occult Confessions - Apple Podcastspodcasts.apple.com
- [06]The Alchemical Actors - Occult Confessions Official Siteoccultconfessions.com
- [07]Creators & Guests of Occult Confessions | Podchaserpodchaser.com
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