arts
Hosted by thespell · arts · EN
The answers to most questions are driven by the grand narratives that dominate human thought the world over. Without us even realising it. Narratives that emanate from the human need to navigate an overwhelming and contradictory world. By making stories to frame the chaos. By storytelling itself. Under the Spell is a podcast series designed to provide a new lens from which to interpret our chaotic world. Hosted by renowned journalist, Michael Avery, this series looks to unpack the stories and themes from David Buckham and Robyn Wilkinson's eye-opening book, The Spell: A story of human progress and how the West lost its soul.
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Contact path
Public web form
Booking probability
28%
Guest openness
Selective
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Signup to Generate a PitchThe answers to most questions are driven by the grand narratives that dominate human thought the world over. Without us even realising it. Narratives that emanate from the human need to navigate an overwhelming and contradictory world. By making stories to frame the chaos. By storytelling itself.
Recent episodes include "The Quantum Narrative | S2 E6" (17 April 2026, 39 minutes), "The Atomic Spell: Why We Fear the Cleanest Energy on Earth | S2 E5" (16 March 2026, 60 minutes), and "The SaaS Pocalypse and the Architecture of Modern Greed | S2 E4" (4 March 2026, 52 minutes).
Under The Spell publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 32 minutes across 17 episodes.
Booking probability for Under The Spell is 28%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. Under The Spell requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. Under The Spell's contact route on record: public web form.
Under The Spell is an arts podcast with 17 episodes published.
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Episode #16
<p>In this episode of Under the Spell, Michael Avery sits down with Professor Andrew Forbes, a distinguished physicist and a central figure in South Africa’s quantum strategy, to go beneath the headlines and the hype...
<p>In this episode of Under the Spell, Michael Avery sits down with Professor Johannes Slabber, a titan of nuclear engineering, to deconstruct the cloud of uncertainty that has hung over nuclear power since the atomic...
<p>In this week's edition of Under the Spell, Michael Avery sits down with David Buckham to dissect the "nerve" they have hit in the global cultural psyche. As the S&P reaches all time highs and markets remain in thrall...
<p>The Green Revolution: A double-edged sword</p> <p>In the third episode of Under the Spell season 2, host Michael Avery and Doctor Tinashe Kapuya peel back the scientific veneer of the Green Revolution to reveal the...
Episode #12
<p>In the second episode of Under the Spell season 2, host Michael Avery and Professor Manoel Bittencourt peel back the layers of global finance to examine the true legacy of the World Bank.</p> <p>For decades, the...
<p>Is AGI the new Frontier, or the ultimate grand narrative?</p> <p>In the premiere episode of Under the Spell season 2, host Michael Avery and author David Buckham dive beneath the surface of the AI frenzy to ask the...
Episode #11
<p>There are many who would argue that humanity is at the apex of it’s progression. However, when you dig deeper into those narratives, as David Buckham did while writing The Spell, you start to realise there are...
Episode #10
<p>Professor Gumede shares his thoughts on South Africa’s need to innovate – and how reading books like The Spell can help us to think more innovatively. Visit thespell.co.za for more</p>
Episode #9
<p>The problem with apocalyptic thinking. David Buckham, co-author of The Spell, unpacks the cognitive dissonance of so many common day narratives, from climate change to AI. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.</p>
Episode #8
<p>'The Spell' publisher, Tim Richman, shares his thoughts on a fascinating question: "is the story more powerful than the facts?" He offers a publisher's perspective on the core themes of 'The Spell', the journey of...
Episode #7
<p>Hypocrisy, contradictions, polarisation, opposing narratives – we ask established journalist, Simon Brown, how he makes sense of the world and whether reading The Spell helped. To learn more visit thespell.co.za.</p>
Episode #6
<p>'The Spell' gives a narrative on how humans make sense of themselves through stories. Zolile Zikode notes how the book traces Western thought from the Ancient Greeks to the present day. It shows how politics...
Episode #5
<p>How are our narratives formed in the modern era? We stop to unpack this hard-hitting topic with Mbali Shamu’s fresh perspective. To find out more about the themes explored in The Spell, visit www.thespell.co.za.</p>
Episode #4
<p>The Spell invites readers into a world of bold ideas and thought-provoking themes. In this interview, Steven Mitchell, Head of Marketing at Monocle Solutions, shares his perspective on the book’s central messages and...
<p>What does one of South Africa’s pre-imminent intellectuals think of The Spell? We Sit down with Professor William Gumede, Associate Director at Wits to understand why he believes it is so important for young people...
Episode #2
<p>We are joined on Under the Spell by renowned financial journalist, Michael Avery, to talk about truth, human progress and societal upliftment. To find out more about the themes explored in The Spell, visit...
Episode #1
<p>Welcome to the very first episode of the ‘Under the Spell’ podcast series, where we are joined by David Buckham, co-author of the book The Spell, to unpack his journey and insights gained from writing the book. To...
Recent guests on Under The Spell. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Associate Professor, School of Governance at Wits University
author of Aspects of Alien Abduction: Shocking UFO Encounters – Volume 1, Scottish Solicitors Bar Association
board-certified general surgeon, Valley Health Surgical Oncology
Monocle Solutions
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