EFC2026 Review with Brett Ken and Troy
with Bro. Ken Lane and Bro. Brett Wolfe
What this episode covers
- In-person still beats virtual. Having Lon Milo DuQuette, Ike Baker, and the other speakers in the building reaffirmed the organizers' choice not to offer a true virtual conference.
- The proceedings are coming. Everything was captured, including audio, video, and the PowerPoints. Troy has 214 pages of transcript to process and hopes to publish the proceedings by January, ready to support next year's event. The Fight Club and Freemasonry film clips cannot be rebroadcast without permission.
- Five speakers was too many. Troy turned down two more speakers and is glad he did. The biggest complaint he heard was that there was not enough time for fellowship during the day.
- The book table worked. More published authors and more books in print than ever meant more book sales than any previous year. Next year the plan is to line up speakers earlier, order books ahead, and offer a pre-sale.
- People come back for the fellowship and the level of the talks. About two-thirds of this year's attendees had been before. Brett and Ken both say people tell them there is nothing else like it.
- EFC 2027 gets a Friday night practical. Troy proposes a short practical followed by the meditation, so the conference effectively starts on Friday.
- Authors get an organized moment with attendees. An author feature at lunch, with signing tables, and authors who are not presenting eating early.
- A breakfast of champions on Sunday. Ken wants a Sunday breakfast for the speakers before they fly out, and Troy is happy to borrow the name from The Gary and Dino Show.
- The panel is back. With fewer speakers, a closing panel returns, which Brett says opens up questions facing Masons today that a single talk's Q&A cannot reach.
Spreeuw and fellow Esotericism in Freemasonry Conference organizers Ken Lane and Brett Wolfe look back at EFC 2026: why five speakers was too many, the book table, the first published proceedings, and what changes for EFC 2027.
How did EFC 2026 really go? Troy Spreeuw sits down with his fellow organizers of the Esotericism in Freemasonry Conference, Bro. Ken Lane and Bro. Brett Wolfe, a few weeks after the event for an honest debrief: what worked, what did not, and why anyone thought cramming five speakers into one day was a good idea.
They start with the whirlwind weekend: Lon Milo DuQuette in the living room with a guitar, Ike Baker finally meeting Troy in person after years of trading podcast appearances, a parking ticket from the City of Seattle, and why the room being in the building together reaffirmed the choice not to offer a virtual conference. Troy confirms that everything was recorded, that 214 pages of transcript are headed for the first published proceedings, hopefully by January, and that the clips from the Fight Club and Freemasonry presentation cannot be rebroadcast.
Then the hard questions. Five speakers was too many, and the biggest complaint was not enough time for fellowship. The group talks through the book table, which sold more books than any previous year thanks to the authors in the room, pre-sale ideas for next year, Edge of the Circle Books in Seattle, and why attendees keep coming back: two-thirds of this year's crowd had been before, and many say there is nothing else like it.
The second half looks forward. A practical on the Friday night ahead of the meditation, an author feature at lunch with signing tables, a Sunday breakfast of champions for the speakers, the return of the closing panel, more vendors, a possible salon for feedback, and the hope of building community that lasts beyond a weekend. Along the way: the Chihuly Garden and the Glass Museum in Tacoma, a fond thank you to Occidental Lodge for sponsoring, a peek at Troy's Five Minute Ritualist classes, three showings of Join or Die in Vancouver, and the word of the week, orthogonal.
Coming up with Troy
October 17: Funeral in the morning and a Fellowcraft degree at noon, Mount Elphinstone Lodge, Roberts Creek October 27: Obligating Entered Apprentice candidates, North Shore Lodge No. 93 October 28: Freedom of Conscience, a new presentation, Capilano Lodge November 14: A showing of Join or Die, open to seekers, at the North Shore Masonic Center. Doors 6:30 PM, film 7:00 PM, popcorn provided. November 28: A showing of Join or Die, open to seekers, at the Agnes Street Temple, New Westminster December 5: A showing of Join or Die, open to seekers, at the Vancouver Masonic Center End of November: The Five Minute Ritualist classes begin on Zoom for Patreon members. Sign up for the newsletter at mystictye.com for details. Esotericism in Freemasonry Conference 2027: speakers and advance tickets will be announced at esotericmasonry.com
Books mentioned in this episode
The Five Minute Ritualist, Kim March Bowling Alone, Robert D. Putnam
Also mentioned
Join or Die, the documentary on Robert D. Putnam, presented with the Vancouver Lodge of Education and Research Edge of the Circle Books, 45th and Roosevelt, University District, Seattle The Gary and Dino Show, Lewis Masonic, Macoy Publishing
Links and resources
Esotericism in Freemasonry Conference: masonicconferences.com
RSVP for the upcoming conference: esotericmasonry@gmail.com
Mystic Tye website and event calendar: mystictye.com
Patreon (early episodes, extended cuts, artwork, extras): patreon.com/mystictye
Support the show
If this episode resonated with you, the most helpful thing you can do is leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. We are also building a directory of Freemasonic events and publications. If you know of something coming up, send Troy an email at troy@mystictye.com.
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