Episodes

  • Secrets of the Basque Witch Hunt with Jan Machielsen
    Oct 16 2024

    Explore one of Europe's most notorious witch hunts - the Basque Witch Trials in France and Spain - with historian Jan Machielsen, author of the new release "The Basque Witch Hunt: A Secret History." We uncover the complex factors behind the trials, including the role of sex-obsessed judge Pierre de Lancre. Machielsen shares the unique Basque Sabbath descriptions and the controversial use of child witnesses, revealing how approximately 100 victims fell prey to these trials. Learn how witch hunt fears persisted and transformed within communities, and draw striking parallels between historical witch hunts and modern witch persecutions. Join us for an eye-opening exploration of the Basque country's rich history.

    JanMachielsen.com

    Buy: The Basque Witch Hunt: A Secret History by Jan Machielsen

    Buy: The Science of Demons: Early Modern Authors Facing Witchcraft and the Devil, Edited by Jan Machielsen

    Buy:The War on Witchcraft: Andrew Dickson White, George Lincoln Burr, and the Origins of Witchcraft Historiography by Jan Machielsen

    The International Network Against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices

    Call on the World Health Organization to re-add sunscreen to the list of essential medicines

    Zoom Event World Day Against Witch Hunts 10th August, 2024

    International Alliance to End Witch Hunts

    IK Ero On Next Steps For Ending Witch Hunts TINAAWAHP

    Sanguma: Everybody’s Business

    Justice for Witches, Pardon Campaign

    End Witch Hunts

    Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

    Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

    Maryland Witches Exoneration Project
    Witch Hunt Website

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    46 mins
  • Witch Hunt Victim Stories: Martha Cory
    Oct 14 2024

    In this episode, we explore the life and tragic fate of Martha Cory, one of the victims of the 1692 Salem Witch Trials.


    Learn about:

    - Martha's background and the mysteries surrounding her early life

    - The events that led to her accusation of witchcraft

    - Her experiences during the trials

    - The surprising role her husband played in her story

    - Martha's ultimate fate and legacy


    Join us as we uncover the story of this "gospel woman" caught in the hysteria of one of America's most infamous historical events. Discover how Martha Cory's tale sheds light on the complexities of life, faith, and justice in colonial New England.

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    5 mins
  • Witch Hunt Podcast Goes to England to Speak about Ending Witch Hunts
    Oct 9 2024
    Join Sarah and Josh as they talk about their recent experiences at two dynamic UK conferences focused on witchcraft and human rights. In this fun and reflective episode, our hosts share the insights gained from the York CREMS Magic and Witchcraft Conference 2024 and the Lancaster "Witchcraft and Human Rights: Past, Present, Future" conference, which centered on the implementation of United Nations Resolution 47/8. Learn about the presentations Sarah and Josh delivered for their nonprofit, End Witch Hunts, including talks on the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project, the End Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA) data collection project, and the World Without Witch Hunts Project. Our hosts share about the fascinating research and presentations of the other experts in the field, which offered experienced perspectives on both historical and contemporary issues surrounding witchcraft accusations. Get up to speed on the current status of implementing Resolution 47/8, which addresses human rights violations related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacks. This episode showcases how these conferences bring together a diverse group of historians, human rights advocates, legal experts, and social scientists in a collaborative effort to combat ongoing witchcraft-related human rights abuses. Whether you're a history enthusiast, a human rights advocate, or simply curious about this often-overlooked global issue, this first hand report promises to broaden your understanding of the intersection between history, human rights, and modern efforts to end witch hunts worldwide. Buy America Bewitched Book by Owen Davies Wolfgang Behringer, Witches and Witch Hunts: A Global History United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8. Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks Papua New Guinea Sorcery and Witchcraft Accusation-Related Violence National Action Plan Pan African Parliament Guidelines for Addressing Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Study on the situation of the violations and abuses of human rights rooted in harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, as well as stigmatization Donate to Our UK Conference Trip to speak and learn about ending witch hunts End Witch Hunts Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Nigeria The International Network Against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices Zoom Event World Day Against Witch Hunts 10th August, 2024. International Alliance to End Witch Hunts IK Ero On Next Steps For Ending Witch Hunts TINAAWAHP Sanguma: Everybody’s Business Justice for Witches, Pardon Campaign End Witch Hunts Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project Maryland Witches Exoneration Project Witch Hunt Website --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    1 hr and 11 mins
  • Grace Sherwood: The Witch of Pungo with Scott O. Moore
    Oct 2 2024

    Fresh from the release of his book The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia, historian Scott O. Moore joins us to uncover the true story behind colonial Virginia's only witch trial. In 1706, Grace Sherwood faced an unusual trial by water—but what really happened, and why does it still captivate us today? Moore examines both the legend and reality of Grace Sherwood, showing how local tensions transformed neighborhood conflict into a witch trial.

    Learn how this singular case differed from the infamous Salem trials, and why Virginia Beach continues to grapple with Sherwood's legacy three centuries later.

    From ducking stools to modern-day memorials, this episode challenges what we think we know about witch trials in America, revealing how historical memory shapes—and sometimes distorts—our understanding of the past and present.


    Purchase the book The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood in Virginia

    Eastern history professor publishes book on legendary Virginia ‘witch’

    End Witch Hunts

    Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

    Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

    Maryland Witches Exoneration Project
    Purchase the book The Witch of Pungo: Grace Sherwood In Virginia

    Author's Corner with Scott O. Moore
    Witch Hunt Website

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    58 mins
  • Salem Witch-Hunt 101 Part 4: Rising Tide
    Sep 25 2024

    In this gripping episode of Salem Witch Hunt 101, we delve into the pivotal period of March 8-24, 1692, when the Salem witch trials reached a fever pitch. We explore the dramatic escalation of accusations and arrests that rocked Salem Village, including the unexpected cases of respected community members Martha Cory and Rebecca Nurse, as well as the shocking arrest of 4-year-old Dorothy Good. The episode begins with the election of new selectmen and constables in Salem, setting the stage for the tumultuous events to come. We then chronicle the return of former Salem Village minister Deodat Lawson and his influential sermon that further inflamed tensions. Listeners will hear detailed accounts of the examinations of Martha Cory and Rebecca Nurse, providing chilling insight into the judicial proceedings of the time. Throughout the episode, we discuss the growing role of spectral evidence in the trials and how it shaped the accusations and outcomes. Key moments include Martha Cory's passionate declaration of innocence, Rebecca Nurse's heartbreaking plea, and the community's reaction to the arrest of young Dorothy Good. The episode concludes with an update on End Witch Hunts' recent activities and a preview of upcoming content. This episode offers a comprehensive look at a crucial turning point in the Salem witch trials, demonstrating how quickly suspicion and fear can escalate into a full-blown crisis. Whether you're a history buff, a legal scholar, or simply curious about this dark chapter in American history, this episode provides valuable insights and compelling storytelling.


    Learn More:

    Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

    Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

    Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

    Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

    Marilynne K. Roach, Six Women of Salem: The Untold Story of the Accused and Their Accusers in the Salem Witch Trials

    Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

    End Witch Hunts

    Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

    Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

    Maryland Witches Exoneration Project

    Witch Hunt Website

    Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

    The Salem Witch-Hunt Saga: Beginnings

    The Ultimate Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials: Salem Witch-Hunt 101 Part 1

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    43 mins
  • Tour Salem's Witch Trial History with Antonio Infante
    Sep 18 2024

    We’re joined by Antonio Infante, a Salem Witch Trials Historic Tour Guide and author. Antonio shares his journey into becoming a guide, sparked by a personal connection to the Salem witch trials through his ancestor. As he highlights the importance of accurate storytelling, Antonio offers a snapshot look at the Essex National Heritage Area’s historic tour that dispels myths about the trials. This episode also explores broader Massachusetts witch trial history and ongoing efforts for justice for all those wrongfully accused, not just the accused in 1692. He gives us a glimpse into his upcoming book about accused witch Sarah Cloyce, sister of Rebecca Nurse, titled Sober and Civil: Being a true narrative of one Sarah Towne Cloyse, formerly Bridges.

    Links

    Donate to Our UK Conference Trip GoFundMe Campaign to speak and learn about ending witch hunts

    End Witch Hunts

    Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

    Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

    Maryland Witches Exoneration Project

    Witch Hunt Website


    Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    50 mins
  • Stopping Child Witch Accusations: a Conversation with Carolyn Gent
    Sep 11 2024

    A critical issue still impacting children in parts of Sub-Saharan Africa is the ongoing crisis of witchcraft accusations. Carolyn Gent, a lawyer and chair of the Stop Child Witch Accusations Coalition, has dedicated her career to community development that prioritizes the safeguarding of children from these harmful accusations and the violence that often accompanies them.

    Carolyn shares her coalition’s innovative efforts to combat child witch accusations through education, community engagement, and faith-based initiatives. Listeners will gain insight into the root causes of these accusations, including poverty, fear, and misconceptions about child development, and learn about the coalition’s work to train church leaders and community members to foster safer, more compassionate environments.

    Key points discussed include the development of the “Heart of the Matter” training resource, the role of media in perpetuating harmful beliefs, and the importance of international collaboration in addressing witch hunts globally. Carolyn’s experience offers hope, demonstrating how education and compassion can transform communities and protect vulnerable children.

    www.stop-cwa.org

    Case Study, Synergies: Contagion of Positive Action

    Donate to Our UK Conference Trip GoFundMe Campaign to speak and learn about ending witch hunts

    End Witch Hunts

    Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project

    Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project

    Maryland Witches Exoneration Project

    Witch Hunt Website
    Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    50 mins
  • Witch Hunt Victim Stories: Margaret Scott
    Sep 10 2024

    In this episode of Witch Hunt Victim Stories, Josh Hutchinson presents the story of Margaret Scott, an enigmatic woman convicted and executed for witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Hutchinson provides detailed accounts of the accusations and testimonies against Scott from various witnesses, tracing the events leading to her indictment and execution on September 22, 1692. Scott's name was not cleared until 2001, highlighting the enduring stigma and injustice faced by those accused of witchcraft. The episode sheds light on the personal experiences and historical context surrounding Margaret Scott's tragic fate.

    Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience

    Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692

    Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

    Daniel A. Gagnon, A Salem Witch: The Trial, Execution, and Exoneration of Rebecca Nurse

    Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege

    Emerson W. Baker, The Devil of Great Island: Witchcraft and Conflict in Early New England


    Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

    --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/witchhunt/support
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    6 mins