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The Thing About Witch Hunts

Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack
Salem Witch Trials
Witchcraft
Witch Hunts
Witchcraft Accusations
Human Rights
Witch Trials
Rebecca Nurse
Albinism
Connecticut Witch Trials
Gender-Based Violence
Malleus Maleficarum
Social Justice
Gender Inequality
Dementia
Martha Cory
Dorothy Good
Sarah Good
Puritanism
Tituba
Ritual Attacks

The Thing About Witch Hunts explores historical witch trials and modern witchcraft persecution worldwide. Hosted by Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, each episode investigates the real history behind witch hunts — from the Salem Witch Trials to the deadly witchcraft accusations still happening worldwide today. Essential listening for history lovers, true crime fans, and human rights advocates. #witc... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes260Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Thing About Witch Hunts

Latest Episodes

Elizabeth Bathory is one of pop culture's favorite monsters. Accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women, she's inspired everything from Snow White's evil stepmother to Lady Gaga. But the actual historical record shows almost none of it ... more

What does 1692 have to do with 1775? More than you might think.

The families of 1692 did not vanish from history. One to two generations after the Salem witch trials, descendants of both the accused and the accusers were drilling on village training... more

YouTube

Fairy history, folklore, and belief across two thousand years of European culture: that is what we are diving into today with historian of religion and belief Dr. Francis Young, author of the new book Fairies: A History

Dr. Young holds a doctorate i... more

YouTube

What did the scholars who studied witchcraft most seriously actually believe? And why did their conclusions so often cut against prosecution?

Professor Darren Oldridge of the University of Worcester joins Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack to examine th... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Dan Gagnon
Danvers' teacher, historian, and author of A Salem Witch, A Biography of Rebecca Nurse
Danvers, Massachusetts
Episode: The American Revolution and Salem Witch Trials Families with Dan Gagnon
Dr. Francis Young
Historian of religion and belief, folklorist
Cambridge University Press (editorial work)
Episode: Fairy History, Folklore, and Belief with Dr. Francis Young
Darren Oldridge
Professor of Early Modern History at the University of Worcester
University of Worcester
Episode: Devil, Witchcraft and English Demonology with Prof. Darren Oldridge
Sara Lent Frier
Assistant Curator of Print and Drawings at the Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University
Cantor Arts Center, Stanford University
Episode: Cunning Folk at Stanford's Cantor Arts Center: Witchcraft and Occult Knowledge
John Blair
Author of Killing the Dead, Corpses, Vampires, and the Unquiet Dead in Medieval and Early Modern Europe
University of Oxford
Episode: Vampires, Witchcraft, and the Dangerous Dead in Folklore and Ritual: Professor John Blair
Clare Prenton
Theatre director and writer, Rope and Flame co-creator
Rope and Flame
Episode: Scottish Witch Trials: The Story of the Peebles Witch Trials Comes Alive in Rope and Flame Play
Anita John
Playwright and co-writer of Rope and Flame
Rope and Flame
Episode: Scottish Witch Trials: The Story of the Peebles Witch Trials Comes Alive in Rope and Flame Play
Scott Noble
Lead actor in Rope and Flame
Rope and Flame
Episode: Scottish Witch Trials: The Story of the Peebles Witch Trials Comes Alive in Rope and Flame Play
Dr. Leo Igwe
Board member of Humanist Association of Nigeria and Humanist International; advocate for alleged witches
Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation
Episode: Give to Gain: Raising Voices for Women Accused of Witchcraft in Nigeria

Hosts

Josh Hutchinson
Host of the show and co-founder of End Witch Hunts; central figure in leadership and hosting duties.
Sarah Jack
Co-host of the show with responsibilities in moderating and facilitating discussions.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 35 ratings
  • Excellent Research

    Love this witchy pod and so will you. That is if you have an interest in the history of witchcraft executions then and now. Good job!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kimmy B 13
    United States10 months ago
  • Needs polishing

    Great content, speech sounds halting, scripted, using some incorrect grammar and language which is confusing, I’m not sure if you need to do some more practicing speaking or if this is nervousness but the content and research is actually excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    pumpkin243
    United Statesa year ago
  • Long neglected history

    Very good history lessons, I’ve learned many new things. Lest we forget, lest we repeat.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Tequila Priestess
    United States2 years ago
  • Thoughtful and dedicated to raising awareness about witch hunts, from both the past and present. A truth wealth of great information!

    Podchaser
    5
    gregory.houle
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners note halting delivery and occasional awkward phrasing.
Listeners praise the depth of historical research and survivor perspectives.
The show consistently raises awareness about overlooked histories and modern implications of witchcraft persecution.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Devil, Witchcraft and English Demonology with Prof. Darren Oldridge
Q: What were the main demonologies needed to understand the learned conception of the devil in early modern England?
Key figures included William Perkins, who emphasized the demonic pact, and Joseph Glanville, who shifted focus toward proving the existence of spirits; these rival traditions shaped how demonology framed witchcraft prosecution up to and after the 1660s.
Devil, Witchcraft and English Demonology with Prof. Darren Oldridge
Q: Not witches first, but the devil first. How did educated English Protestants conceptualize witchcraft in relation to the devil?
Educated English Protestants tended to frame witchcraft as temptations or contracts with the devil, sometimes viewing the pact as the essential mechanism by which witchcraft operated, while ordinary folk worried more about tangible harms and natural explanations.
Fairy History, Folklore, and Belief with Dr. Francis Young
Q: Can you touch a little bit on how we have fairies in fairy tales, fairy in this folk belief, and then fairies in literature?
There are three main channels: through folklore as eyewitness memory of encounters, through fairy tales that were never meant to be literally true, and through literature where fairies are reimagined for drama and narrative. Over time, stage and literary depictions contributed the most recognizable features, like wings, wand-wielding figures, and female-dominated fairy image, which later influenced popular culture.
Witches, Rakes, and Rogues: Unearthing Boston's Hidden History with D. Brenton Simons
Q: What is your favorite story that you collected?
D. Brenton Simons shares that he is particularly sentimental about the Greenleaf story, as it was the narrative that got his research rolling and showcases changes in historical interpretation.
Witches, Rakes, and Rogues: Unearthing Boston's Hidden History with D. Brenton Simons
Q: Can you tell us about that experience?
D. Brenton Simons describes receiving an honor from King Charles III for his long-term services to Anglo American history, reflecting on the significance and surprise of this recognition.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Thing About Witch Hunts

What is The Thing About Witch Hunts about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A historical focus on witch trials and the modern-day persecution surrounding accusations of witchcraft, blending scholarly context with survivor and witness accounts. Episodes feature historians, authors, legal experts, and journalists who dissect cases from Salem to contemporary Africa, exploring representation, gender, race, power, and societal responses. The show often ties past injustices to present-day issues, highlighting legal reform, public memory, and cultural storytelling as tools for awareness and accountability. Its strength lies in cross-disciplinary conversations, global perspectives, and a clear commitment to illuminating underrepresented voices in witchcraft discourse.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Thing About Witch Hunts?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Thing About Witch Hunts:

1. The Rest Is Entertainment
2. The Thing About the Salem Witch Trials
3. Dish
4. You're Dead to Me
5. The Rest Is History

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The Thing About Witch Hunts launched 4 years ago and published 260 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Thing About Witch Hunts?

Recent guests on The Thing About Witch Hunts include:

1. Dan Gagnon
2. Dr. Francis Young
3. Darren Oldridge
4. Sara Lent Frier
5. John Blair
6. Clare Prenton
7. Anita John
8. Scott Noble

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