Podcast Summary: This Guy Sucked

Episode: Edward Kelley with Cynthia Paces (Subscriber Preview)
Date: October 23, 2025
Host: Dr. Claire Aubin
Guest: Dr. Cynthia Paces (Professor of History, The College of New Jersey)

Overview of Episode Theme

This episode of This Guy Sucked dives into the notorious life and legend of Edward Kelley, a 16th-century English alchemist, charlatan, and occultist who made his mark in Renaissance Prague. Dr. Claire Aubin is joined by Dr. Cynthia Paces, who brings historical expertise on Prague and recently released a new book, The Heart of Europe. Together, they explore how Kelley’s outsized (and frequently faked) reputation for wizardry and fraud shaped the way Prague’s history is understood—distorting a vibrant period into a tale of mystical quackery.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Life and Times of Edward Kelley

• Background: Kelley was likely English (despite sometimes claiming Irish ancestry), showing up in Prague in the 1580s-90s.
• Contested Origins: His early life is murky; he used aliases (Talbot/Kelley), and archival evidence is patchy.
• Frauds & Ears: Notably, Kelley reportedly had his ears lopped off—a punishment for fraud (“That was a sign that maybe he had been found guilty of fraud because that was a punishment for people who are, like, in the pillory” - Cynthia Paces, 13:54).
• Charlatan Par Excellence: He posed as both an alchemist and a “scryer”—someone who communicated with angels or spirits, convincing educated audiences of his powers.

2. Edward Kelley’s Influence on Prague’s Reputation

• Alchemical Myth: Kelley's antics helped cement an image of Prague as a mystical, occult capital in the Renaissance, overshadowing other facets of the city’s vibrant history.
  • “He is quite a charlatan... most responsible for what I would call the dark side of what we know about the dark arts.” (Cynthia Paces, 05:40)
• Tourist Trap: Modern tourism in Prague trades on this legend, often offering less-than-authentic ‘occult museums.’
  • “It almost looked like a prop set for like a bad Harry Potter play or something.” (Cynthia Paces, 09:38)
• Narrow Focus: Dr. Paces laments that Kelley’s legacy leads people to equate all of Renaissance Prague with magic and alchemy, ignoring political, religious, and scientific advancements.

3. Partnership with John Dee

• Dee’s Credentials: John Dee, a renowned English mathematician, astronomer, and astrologer closely associated with Queen Elizabeth I, became entangled with Kelley.
  • “He is far more famous than Edward Kelly. Yes, yes. And legitimately so, from what we know.” (Claire Aubin, 12:25)
• Parasite or Peer? Kelley attached himself to Dee, exploiting their association to gain access to powerful circles and justify his own mystical claims.
• Evasiveness & Grifting: Pattern of fraudulent behavior and self-invention, which Dee’s diaries document with skepticism (“Dee crosses off, Kelly writes, Talbot crosses that off again, puts Kelly back... people have looked for him in the records at Oxford.” - Cynthia Paces, 13:54)

4. Renaissance Science, Belief, and Fraud

• Multidisciplinary Borderlands: The episode stresses the blurred boundaries between science, religion, and magic in the period.
  • “You can’t make the distinctions, you can as much between alchemy and science and astronomy and astrology.” (Cynthia Paces, 13:54)
• Historical Judgment: The hosts emphasize that Kelley was a fraud even by contemporary standards—not just by modern skepticism.
  • “We’re not talking about this just to be skeptical… even judging by the standards of his time period, he still does things that are bad.” (Claire Aubin, 19:27)

5. Broader Implications

• The Kelley episode serves as a microcosm for how charismatic fraudsters can distort a region’s historical narrative for centuries.
• Dr. Paces advocates for a more nuanced appreciation of Prague’s Renaissance—focusing on authentic science, art, policy, and everyday life, not just occult nonsense.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Describing the most Prague thing:
  • “...a very casual beer garden that overlooks the river, and it's in Letna park, and it's very near where the old Stalin monument had been. And now there's a big metronome there...” (Cynthia Paces, 02:16)
• On Kelley’s legacy in Prague:
  • “His story totally changes the narrative of like what Prague was in the Renaissance period.” (Cynthia Paces, 08:21)
• Daughter’s love of the Prague clock:
  • “One time it didn't work and she burst into tears. Like, on the middle of Old Town Square.” (Cynthia Paces, 11:01)
• Claire on historical fraudsters:
  • “A third of the people that we talk about on the show are like, just really into lying about themselves.” (Claire Aubin, 13:28)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:28 - Introducing Cynthia Paces and her new book
• 02:16 - Cynthia shares her favorite spot in Prague
• 05:33 - Introduction of Edward Kelley and his significance
• 09:38 - The touristy side of Prague's mystical reputation
• 12:25 - Connection to John Dee and entry into power circles
• 13:54 - Early life, deception, and signs of fraudulence
• 19:27 - Judging Kelley by his own time's standards
• 20:34 - Renaissance science vs. charlatanism; why Kelley was resented
• 22:45 - End of free preview

Episode Tone

The conversation is witty, irreverent, and deeply informed with moments of both scholarly insight and personal warmth. The hosts revel in both poking fun at historical frauds and challenging simplistic popular narratives about Prague’s past.

Note: This is a preview episode. For the full conversation and deeper dive into Edward Kelley’s exploits, join the show’s Patreon.