Magic: The Management Would Like To See You

Magic is everywhere in fiction. But it's never free, never equal, and never as simple as waving a wand. In this episode, Neil breaks down the unspoken rules that govern every magical world you've ever visited. From Hogwarts to the crossroads at midnight to a coven in a California shopping mall.

Because the magic system isn't a fantasy. It's just the class system in a cloak.

REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING

Harry Potter series - J.K. Rowling. Referenced throughout. Referencing is not endorsement.

Bewitched (1964-1972) - ABC. Samantha Stephens, the most powerful witch in the room, hiding it to keep the peace.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003) - ABC/WB.

The Craft - dir. Andrew Fleming (1996)

The VVitch - dir. Robert Eggers (2015)

Wicked - book by Gregory Maguire (1995) / musical (2003) / film dir. Jon M. Chu (2024)

Agatha All Along - Marvel/Disney+ (2024)

Buffy the Vampire Slayer - created by Joss Whedon (1997-2003)

The Wizard of Oz - dir. Victor Fleming (1939)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood - anime series (2009-2010)

What We Do In The Shadows - FX series (2019-)

Wyrd Sisters / Granny Weatherwax - Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters (1988)

Dennis Wheatley - The Devil Rides Out (1934) and the Duke de Richleau novels

Faust - Christopher Marlowe (1592) / Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1808)

Robert Johnson - blues musician (1911-1938). The crossroads legend.

The Monkey's Paw - W.W. Jacobs (1902)

The Sorcerer's Apprentice - orig. Goethe, Der Zauberlehrling (1797) / Fantasia, dir. James Algar (1940)

Jack Parsons (1914-1952) - rocket scientist, occultist, co-founder of JPL. Full article on the Substack.

THE COMPANION PIECES

Essay: The Rules - Episode 2 - Magic - The Management Would Like to See You Now - the full non-fiction essay - Click here

Fiction: A More Comfortable Cage - the companion short story - Click here (after 30th May 2026) *fair warning this link is cursed if you click early

Further reading: Jack Parsons: The Man Who Launched America Into Space With Magic - Click here

The Rules is an independent podcast from Pegasus Podcasts. New episodes drop weekly. If you liked this one, the best thing you can do is tell someone.