The Thing About Witch Hunts

Join us for an informative International Women's Day 2025 episode where we explore this year's theme: "Accelerate Action." We're shining a light on a global crisis often hidden from headlines - women…

Professor and author Jane Barnette from the University of Kansas joins us for a discussion on how witch trial narratives continue to influence our cultural understanding. 

She shares about her groundb…

Learn about stigmata and exorcisms with an in-depth conversation with historian Kristof Smeyers, a leading expert on the history of science, religion, and magic during the 19th and 20th centuries. Th…

Witchcraft and sorcery accusations continue to plague our world in the 21st century. Join us as we explore the complex issue of sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV) in Papua New Guinea through …

Remembering the Innocent Victims of Connecticut’s Witch Trials was a first-of-its-kind tribute held in Hartford, Connecticut on February 1, 2025. This special episode recaps the event, which was a ce…

How did geography shape the Salem Witch Trials?

Join returning guest, author, and Salem Witch Trials expert Marilynne K. Roach as she maps the physical landscape of colonial Massachusetts where witch…

In this special bonus episode of Witch Hunt podcast, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack announce a groundbreaking commemoration of Connecticut's witch trial history. The event, "Remembering the Inn…

In this illuminating conversation, Kacey Baker, host of The Cult Vault podcast, shares her journey from lockdown podcaster to advocate and expert in coercive control. What began as a way to stay ment…

Between 1542 and 1735, British courts convicted over 3,000 people under witchcraft legislation. Now, author Charlotte Meredith is leading a campaign to secure their pardons. We first met Charlotte at…

"Witch Hunt" explores Maryland's forgotten witch trial history through a revealing conversation with attorney Elizabeth Pugliese-Shaw, who's spearheading efforts to exonerate those accused of witchcr…

Explore the fascinating evolution of the concept of the Devil in Western civilization with medieval devil lore expert Dr. Richard Raiswell from the University of Prince Edward Island. Dr. Raiswell re…

Join returning guest historian and researcher Dr. Debora Moretti for a fascinating journey through centuries of Italian folklore as she invites you to get to know La Befana, Italy's beloved Epiphany …

Explore the fascinating transformation of Christmas traditions in America, revealing how many of our cherished customs emerged more recently than we might imagine. Examine Christmas celebrations in c…

Historian Louis Pulford reveals how a 13th-century religious persecution became the blueprint for centuries of persecution. The Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) marked the first time the Catholic Chur…

On Human Rights Day, December 10th, marking 76 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we explore one of humanity's ongoing challenges: how differences continue to be met with fear, pe…

Join us for an exciting collaboration as Witch Hunt meets Witches of Scotland in this special crossover episode. Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack sit down with Zoe Venditozzi and Claire Mitchell …

Explore the pressing global challenge of modern witch hunts with Kirsty Brimelow KC, one of Britain's leading human rights barristers and incoming vice chair of the Bar Council. Drawing parallels bet…

In February 1933, while the world was entering the age of radio and automobiles, individuals from the town of Soalhaes, Portugal burned a woman accused of witchcraft. The victim was Arminda de Jesus,…

We step behind Broadway's emerald curtain to explore Wicked with two leading scholars. The University of Kansas' Paul Laird, professor emeritus of musicology, received unprecedented access as Stephen…

Wicked Movie: The Making of a Witch explores the nuanced and powerful portrayal of witches in the highly anticipated Wicked movie. Witch Hunt podcast hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack delve into t…