ABOUT WAKING WORLD
The WakingWorld Podcast was founded in 2023 by Dale and Toby in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, a place renowned for its deep spiritual connection to the land, its rich Indigenous history, and its unique energetic properties. Nestled within a giant ancient caldera, this region has long attracted seekers, mystics, and those attuned to the unseen forces shaping our world. With its striking landscapes and powerful ley lines, Northern Rivers has become a meeting ground for those drawn to exploring esoteric knowledge, secret histories, and the hidden mechanisms of power.
More than just a podcast, WakingWorld is a journey into the unknown, delving into the occult, ritual & magick, secret societies, conspiracy theories, global control systems, and esoteric traditions. It exists to challenge mainstream narratives and uncover the stories buried beneath history’s surface. The conversations range from the mystical to the geopolitical, weaving together ancient wisdom, alternative history, and modern-day revelations. WakingWorld isn’t here to dictate truth—it’s here to question it.
The Northern Rivers is home to a diverse and enigmatic mix of people—from sugarcane farmers and diesel mechanics to off-grid cults, covens, and witches—a melting pot of minds that defy convention. In this setting, Dale and Toby bring together scholars, researchers, whistleblowers, and truth-seekers to discuss the realities lurking beneath accepted history. Whether you’re drawn to the hidden hands of global power, the mysteries of the ancient world, or the deeper meaning behind modern events, WakingWorld is your gateway to the unseen.
Dale Penny
Founder, Producer & Host
Dale is the chaotic force behind WakingWorld. Officially, he’s a (real) entrepreneur in the commercial world (although, let’s be honest, that word is a bit of a wank). Unofficially, he’s a former viral TikToker, a professional shit-stirrer, and the guy who brings the ramekins of peanuts and stifled burps to every recording session.
During the Covid madness, Dale gained a following on TikTok by posting counter-narrative videos—laced with sarcasm, comedy, and just enough truth to get him silenced and shadowbanned. That censorship became the catalyst for what he really wanted to do: build a platform for deeper conversations and unfiltered inquiry.
But WakingWorld didn’t start with the podcast. The concept began back in 2017 with the original WakingWorld website, a video repository for content from alternative and free-thinkers—a digital archive for those who didn’t fit the mainstream mould. The podcast is the natural evolution of that vision: a space for voices, ideas, and rabbit holes that deserve the airtime.
As Producer and Host, Dale brings the inquisitive questions, the humour, the chaos, the accents, and the general refusal to colour inside the lines. He’s not here to sell a belief system—he’s here to throw it all on the table, poke it with a stick, and see what moves.
Toby Nuttall
Founder & Host
Toby is what you’d get if an eccentric 19th-century English Lord found himself reincarnated into the body of a young Australian man with a taste for philosophy, history, and the esoteric. A private school education and a degree in philosophy gave him the tools to dissect reality with precision, but it was his fascination with the occult that truly shaped him. From the age of 13, he was drawn to the darker corners of mysticism and black magic, a curiosity that eventually led to his initiation into the Ordo Templi Orientis. A lifelong devotee of Aleister Crowley, Toby doesn’t just study the occult—he embodies it, weaving its influence into his worldview with the effortless flair of a born storyteller.
A walking encyclopedia of arcane knowledge, historical intrigue, and forbidden wisdom, Toby is the kind of person who can hold court for hours, effortlessly shifting between tales of ancient civilizations, secret societies, and real-world conspiracies. He’s a master of the long-winded tangent that somehow loops back to make perfect sense, an enigma wrapped in sharp wit and eccentric charm. Whether he’s deconstructing history’s biggest lies, summoning long-lost philosophies, or making you question your entire belief system over a spliff, one thing is certain—Toby is unlike anyone you’ve ever met.
Harisen R. Markarian
Co-Host
Harisen is a proud Northern Rivers local, a staunch Libertarian, and the unofficial sourdough king of the east coast. As co-host of the Two’s Company segment on WakingWorld, Harisen brings sharp insight, dry wit, and a deep knowledge of global geopolitical maneuverings to the table each week.
A dedicated follower of thinkers like Scott Horton and Dave Smith, Harisen has an uncanny ability to absorb dense political analysis and translate it into something clear, digestible, and occasionally fire-starting for the WakingWorld audience. Whether he’s dissecting foreign policy failures or calling out imperial overreach, Harisen’s contribution is equal parts informed, passionate, and grounded in libertarian principle—making him a crucial voice in the WakingWorld conversation.