S9E1 - The Witch's Allies: Animal Familiars, Fetches, and the Truth About Working with Familiars with Dodie Graham McKay Artwork

The Magick Kitchen Podcast

Join Leandra Witchwood and Elyse Welles to discuss magick, food, herbs, tea, rituals, and more. This is where witches come together to talk about our interests and experiences.

Leandra Witchwood is a Modern Witch, Priestess, and Master Herbalist dedicated to wortcunning, magick, healing, and spiritual growth. Based in South-Central PA, she founded The Magick Kitchen Blog in 2011, which has evolved to become one of the top 30 podcasts in the religion and spirituality category. She is the host of The Unbound Priestess Podcast. An author of five books on Witchcraft and shadow work, Leandra offers decades of knowledge and experience to guide the magickal community. Using her knowledge as a Vitalist Herbalist, Leandra also hand-blends loose-leaf teas at The Witchwood Teahouse, where she seamlessly marries whimsy with flavor. Leandra offers courses, certification & training programs in the Gardens of the Mystic Program and Rebel Mystic Coven.
✨Join Leandra for an empowering journey into self-discovery and magick. Learn more about what Leandra offers and how you can work with her at https://www.leandrawitchwood.com/

Elyse Welles is a Greek-Egyptian and American earth intuitive Priestess. Initiated in the Faery Tradition & holding an MA focusing on spiritual studies, she is a teacher of the lost Earth Priestess Arts of the Mediterranean, where she hails from. She hosts 3 podcasts, & is an author. Her book on connecting with land spirits was released with Llewellyn in 2025 and a paranormal mystery novel in September 2025. She writes for Witchology and Witch Way Magazine and is the Greece correspondent for the Wild Hunt. She has spoken at conferences such as Hekatefest and the Ancestral Magic Summit. She runs Seeking Numina, facilitating rituals at Greece's sacred sites, & teaches the Path of the Sacred Wild, an earth-based spirituality. Learn more: seekingnumina.com + Instagram @seekingnumina.

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The Magick Kitchen Podcast

S9E1 - The Witch's Allies: Animal Familiars, Fetches, and the Truth About Working with Familiars with Dodie Graham McKay

April 13, 2025 • Leandra Witchwood, Elyse Welles • Season 9 • Episode 1

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In the season 9 premiere, Elyse and Leandra sit down in the magick kitchen with Dodie Graham McKay, author of 'The Witch's Ally', an incredible book on working with familiars. You'll learn that familiars aren't always animals, and in fact, historically, animals aren't the most common type of familiar. And the polar bear story Dodie shares from her time in the Great White North is one of Elyse's favorites we've ever had told here on the show!

Dodie Graham McKay is a writer, green witch, and filmmaker. She is inspired to document and share stories that capture the beauty of nature and the visible and invisible realms of magic and witchcraft. She is the author of the books Earth Magic: The Elements of Witchcraft (Llewellyn, 2021), and A Witch’s Ally: Building a Magical Relationship with Animal Familiars & Companions (Llewellyn, 2024), and her documentary films include The WinniPagans, Starry Nights and the Fibe TV 4-part series Exploring the Sacred. Dodie spends her spare time walking her dogs and facilitating a busy coven. She lives in Treaty One Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.Learn more about Dodie and get her book at her website: https://www.dodiegrahammckay.com/

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Follow Elyse @seekingnumina, & join Seekers of the Sacred Wild, a free group with weekly live lessons and readings. Join upcoming pilgrimages and container courses here: www.elysewelles.com/2026Immersive

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