So What is Western Esotericism, Anyway?

In the inaugural episode of "The Secret History of Western Esotericism Podcast," host Earl Fontainelle introduces the concept of Western Esotericism by critiquing the traditional understanding popularized by Dame Francis Yates. He explains that while Yates presented Hermeticism as a driving force in European intellectual development, it was an oversimplified view. Fontainelle defines Western Esotericism using the University of Amsterdam's definition, encompassing various neglected currents in Western cultural history, including Gnosticism, Hermetism, alchemy, and modern occultism. He emphasizes the podcast's aim to explore these interconnected yet distinct movements, promising a detailed, interdisciplinary journey through the history of ideas, challenging conventional narratives and revealing the "secret history" through in-depth analysis and expert interviews. The episode concludes with a quiz to highlight the range of esoteric topics and a discussion on the meaning behind the podcast's title, setting the stage for a chronological exploration of Western Esotericism from antiquity to the present day.