The Mystic and The Mayor: Introducing... Toil and Trouble

Podcast: The Mystic and The Mayor
Host: Always True Crime
Episode: Introducing... Toil And Trouble
Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This special episode acts as a crossover and introduction to the new series, Toil and Trouble. The hosts, Hannah George and Taylor Glenn, provide an evocative and suspenseful exploration into the story of Alfred Douglas, an 80-year-old occult scholar in the English coastal town of Rye. What begins as a mentoring relationship between Alfred and his much younger lodger, Moira Lane, transforms under the pressures of the pandemic and Alfred’s unique magical world, ultimately raising questions about trust, vulnerability, and the consequences of letting a stranger into one's life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Scene: Rye, a Town Both Idyllic and Mysterious

• Atmospheric Introduction (00:21 - 02:04):
  Taylor Glenn and Hannah George paint a vivid picture of Rye, a medieval hilltop town bustling with artists and eccentricities, amplified by King Charles III’s coronation festivities.
  • "It's close enough to the sea that you can smell the salt in the air... Rye is the epitome of a quaint English town." (01:01 - Hannah)

2. Alfred Douglas: The Man Behind the Magic

• A Portrait of Alfred (09:14):
  Alfred is introduced as a distinguished, storybook-like figure deeply embedded in a world of occult and magic.
  • "There's nothing ordinary about him. Everything about him is extraordinary." (09:09 - Anna)
• His Background:
  • Student of the legendary Madeleine Montalban, creator of the Sheridan Douglas Tarot with his wife Patsy (11:11 - 11:24).
  • Shared his home and tutelage with eclectic, creative figures and students:
    • "Not only were Alfred and Patsy celebrities of this world, but actual celebrities sought them out." (12:24 - Hannah)
    • Patsy (aka Jo Sheridan) was a noted astrologer, editor, and public personality (11:05).

3. The Arrival of Moira Lane

• Early Encounters and Growing Attachment (19:31 - 21:16):
  Moira, an Irish law student and former course attendee, returns to Alfred’s life as a lodger during her studies in Dublin, invited for extended stays to use his library and learn from him.
  • Her presence grows steadily, and she is gradually accepted by Alfred's inner circle, with draws of both companionship and professional curiosity.
    • "And you could see that Alfred was very pleased to be in her company." (20:34 - Paul)

4. The Pandemic: Shifting Dynamics and Concerns

• Lockdown Living (05:21 - 06:17):
  Alfred and Moira’s support bubble is described as a practical measure for safety and company, with Alfred actively helping Moira qualify as a barrister through Zoom role-plays and daily support.
  • "So that was a big reason of thinking. There's enormous value to him having somebody in the house..." (05:41 - Anna)
• Growing Dependency and Subtle Tensions (25:36 - 26:16):
  By the time restrictions lift, Anna and Paul observe that Alfred’s social world has narrowed, fueling concern about Moira’s influence and his isolation.
  • "Moira had become Alfred's whole life. But now, for the first time, Anna and Paul were wondering if that was a good thing..." (25:36 - Taylor)

5. Power, Consent, and Magic: The Blurring of Boundaries

• Unusual Household Dynamics (08:11 - 09:09):
  Interviews with Alfred’s family and neighbors reveal shifting roles: student–teacher, carer–cared for, guest–housemate.
  • "This is the story of Moira and Alfred, lodger and homeowner, student and teacher, carer and cared for, and the consequences of letting a stranger into your home." (08:53 - Taylor)
• Relational Complexity:
  Family and neighbors express both trust and growing worry, reflecting on vulnerability—how it can be both empowering and dangerous.
  • "I think he loved the idea of having a companion, but... that's slightly embarrassing." (20:34 - Paul)
  • "She was very useful in that relationship... and who are we to poke our noses into his personal arrangements?" (21:54 - Anna)

6. The Outside Perspective: Community and the Aura of Magic

• Neighborly Observations (14:49 - 15:19):
  David, Alfred’s next-door neighbor, describes Alfred’s shy, scholarly presence but also the quiet mystique surrounding him and Rye itself.
  • "Alfred is, you know, one of the sweetest guys you could ever meet, really... It's a very magical place." (15:19 - David)
• A Home Rooted in Esoteric Tradition:
  The house emerges as a character—rambling, garden-filled, and stacked with books on arcane lore, guarded by ritual and lunar gardening.
  • "Alfred gardens by the moon, which is why his plants were three times taller." (16:41 - Anna)

7. Seeds of Trouble: The Family Diary and Mounting Suspicion

• Chronicling the Descent (26:00 - 26:16):
  Anna and Paul, unsettled by Alfred’s isolation, begin to keep a detailed diary (over 130 pages) to make sense of the subtle shifts and concerning incidents centered around Moira.
  • "If you hadn't kept the diary, I think we would be absolutely lost..." (26:00 - Anna)
• Foreshadowing:
  • The episode closes with a hint of escalation:
    • "This is going to end up in some serious event. It was quite clear that somebody was going to get seriously hurt." (26:47 - Anna)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Rye’s character:
  "Rye is the epitome of a quaint English town." (01:01 - Hannah)
• On Alfred’s uniqueness:
  "There's nothing ordinary about him. Everything about him is extraordinary." (09:09 - Anna)
• On the occult legacy:
  "He would think of himself very much as a sort of philosopher and academic." (14:49 - David) "You can't be a great magician unless you master astrology." (14:06 - Hannah)
• On Moira’s role:
  "She was very useful in that relationship... and who are we to poke our noses into his personal arrangements?" (21:54 - Anna)
• On familial concern:
  "Moira had become Alfred's whole life. But now, for the first time, Anna and Paul were wondering if that was a good thing." (25:36 - Taylor)
• On keeping a record:
  "The fact that we kept a diary is really significant to this whole thing." (26:00 - Anna)
• Building tension for future episodes:
  "This is going to end up in some serious event. It was quite clear that somebody was going to get seriously hurt." (26:47 - Anna)

Key Timestamps

• 00:21 – Introduction to Rye and scene setting
• 02:04 – Alfred’s initial crisis, atmosphere of suspense
• 04:17 – Interview with Anna and Paul, Alfred’s family
• 09:14 – Description of Alfred, his personality, and his influence
• 11:05 – Backstory on Patsy/Sheridan and their occult careers
• 16:28 – Alfred’s house and its magical garden
• 19:31 – The beginning of Alfred and Moira’s shared story
• 21:54 – Anna’s reflections on Moira’s presence
• 25:36 – Shift in Alfred’s life, Anna and Paul’s mounting concern
• 26:00 – The family diary begins
• 26:45 – Teaser for coming conflict

Tone & Style

Narration is thoughtful, quietly suspenseful, and laced with a gentle humor and affection for the quirks and complexities of its subjects. Interviews are candid, often tinged with concern but always deeply personal. The language is conversational, sometimes whimsical but attentive to the seriousness of the underlying dynamics.

Summary

Toil and Trouble invites listeners into a gothic and modern real-life fairy tale that explores the interplay of magic, vulnerability, mentorship, and blurred boundaries. The episode excels in world-building, introducing Alfred’s enchanting yet precarious life and his increasingly complex bond with Moira—setting the stage for a compelling drama anchored in the realities of isolation, trust, and the unforeseen consequences of inviting the extraordinary into the everyday.