About this episode

The episode explores the life and legacy of Scott Cunningham, a pivotal figure in the establishment of Wicca in North America, through the memories of his sister and contributions from contemporary figures in witchcraft.

A moving portrait of the iconic figure who led the way in establishing Wicca in North America―with remembrances of his life by his sister, Christine Cunningham Ashworth, and appreciations written by key figures in today’s world of witchcraft, magic, tarot, and astrology. The iconic and renowned bestselling author Scott Cunningham (1956–1993) played a significant role in establishing Wicca in North America. His pioneering book Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner radically altered the practice of Wicca, enabling practitioners to self-initiate. Scott’s books, especially his encyclopedias, remain popular today, years after his death. In recent years, Scott has also emerged as a celebrated queer icon, especially in the witchcraft world. Although so many people have come to Wicca and Paganism through his books, little is actually known about Scott Cunningham as a person. His little sister, Christine Cunningham Ashworth, seeks to remedy that. Christine grew up with him, laughed with him, learned with him, fought with him, and shared joys and sorrows. She writes about their childhood, gives a peek into their parents’ lives, and brings to life what it was like to grow up in the…

People in this episode

Host: Marla Brooks

Guest: Christine Cunningham Ashworth

Topics covered

• Wicca
• Scott Cunningham
• witchcraft
• Paganism
• queer icon
• family legacy

Keywords

• Scott Cunningham
• Wicca
• witchcraft
• Paganism
• Christine Cunningham Ashworth
• queer icon
• tarot
• astrology

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner

More episodes of Stirring the Cauldron

• Episode 912: Lon Milo DuQuette-The Weiser Book of Horror or Occult · July 3, 2026 · 58 min
• Episode 911: Jacki Smith-Ghosts Are Not Zoo Animals · June 25, 2026 · 1h 9m
• Episode 910: It's All About AI · June 19, 2026 · 54 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Stirring the Cauldron podcast page.