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Artwork for The Thing About Witch Hunts

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
Dementia
Gender Inequality
Sarah Good
Martha Cory
Dorothy Good
Puritanism
Tituba
Ritual Attacks

Witch trials have shaped communities, claimed lives, and defined entire eras of history. The Thing About Witch Hunts investigates the real history behind witch hunts and modern witchcraft persecution worldwide, from the Salem witch trials of 1692 to the deadly witchcraft accusations devastating communities today. Hosted by Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, each episode delivers essential context for... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes263Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for The Thing About Witch Hunts

Latest Episodes

We turn the mic on each other for a fast, personal Q&A spanning Salem and global witch hunts, from the infamous Salem witch cake to pop-culture “broom” upgrades and the accused people we can’t stop thinking about, including Samuel Wardwell, Katherine... more

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Divination folklore, folk magic history, and the practice of reading omens, cards, and natural signs are at the heart of this conversation with Icy Sedgwick, author of Fate or Fortune: The Art and Folklore of Divination, folklorist, and host of the F... more

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Alice Young was the first person executed for witchcraft in the American colonies, in Windsor, Connecticut, in 1647, before the Salem witch trials. Award-winning author Beth Caruso and playwright Lauren Cavanaugh join Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack t... more

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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

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Recent Guests

Icy Sedgwick
Author, folklorist, diviner, and host of Fabulous Folklore Podcast
Fabulous Folklore Podcast
Episode: The Art and Folklore of Divination with Icy Sedgwick, author of Fate or Fortune
Beth Caruso
Award-winning author focusing on Connecticut Witch Trials
Author, Connecticut Witch House trilogy
Episode: Connecticut Witch Trials Before Salem: The Play Windsor's Daughter Restores Alice Young's Legacy
Lauren Cavanaugh
Playwright developing Windsor's Daughter to dramatize Alice Young's story
Playwright
Episode: Connecticut Witch Trials Before Salem: The Play Windsor's Daughter Restores Alice Young's Legacy
Shelley Puhak
Author of Blood Countess, historian
Author
Episode: Blood Countess: The Lies that Made Elizabeth Bathory a Serial Killer with Shelley Puhak
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

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 Statesa year 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 States3 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.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Art and Folklore of Divination with Icy Sedgwick, author of Fate or Fortune
Q: Tell us about your work and expertise.
Icy discusses her background as a writer and researcher focused on folklore, with a specialism in divination, and explains how divination intersects with everyday life, history, and culture.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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 Thing About the Salem Witch Trials
2. Witches of Scotland
3. Gone Medieval
4. After Dark: Myths, Misdeeds & the Paranormal
5. As the Season Turns

How many episodes of The Thing About Witch Hunts are there?

The Thing About Witch Hunts launched 4 years ago and published 263 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. Icy Sedgwick
2. Beth Caruso
3. Lauren Cavanaugh
4. Shelley Puhak
5. Dan Gagnon
6. Dr. Francis Young
7. Darren Oldridge
8. Sara Lent Frier

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