Saints & Witches

Ah, the age-old saying! Today, we discuss two sagas filled with general slut behavior. First, we examine the 10th century Saeculum obscurum, or "dark age" of the papacy. (This. Story. Has. Everything.) Then, we head over to 16th century Britain to discuss three interconnected witch trials involving slaughtered hogs, some Lunchables, and a cat named Satan. What more could you ask for? Enjoying the...

Happy Golden Anniversary! For our fiftieth episode, we take a deep dive into the Aztec Empire. First, we explore the history and culture of the indigenous Mexica people, and then we discuss the fall of the Empire from both the Mexica point of view and from the point of view of their enemies, the Spanish conquistadors and the Tlaxcalan Nation. Finally, we wrap up with the stories of the three Child...

Gather round, children! This week we take a look at two legendary female figures whom medieval people had a really tough time categorizing. We discuss the myth of the female Pope Joan and the testicle chair that inspired it, then explore a few Arthurian legends that focus on the mysterious Morgan le Fay. Oh, and we get really mad along the way. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/re...

Welcome to Episode 48, in which we make our first trip to China! (Only we would unknowingly record this episode on the Chinese Lunar New Year and only realize it a few hours later.) Today, Liz dives into the drama and witchcraft accusations in the court of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty (This. Story. Has. Everything), and Sarah gives an overview of the Roman Church's relationship with China over th...

Today's episode marks our long-overdue first visit to Brazil! We discuss the Catholic medium and "psychic surgeon" João Teixeira de Faria*, who performed healings and surgeries from his spiritual hospital in Abadiânia for 40+ years. Then, we discuss a series of grisly murders*, which some Brazilian citizens have blamed on practitioners of Candomblé and Umbanda, two Afro-Brazilian religions often s...

It’s a brand new year, and we’re so thankful that you’re still hanging out with us! Today, we explore another case in the 17th-century cluster of French possessions, the Aix-en-Provence possessions. Then, we finally take a deep dive into the history of exorcism in the Catholic church. The devil? In this economy?? Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hea...

A very merry Christmas, blessed Yule, and... all the other ones... to everyone celebrating this week! Today, we focus on two stories of revelation and prophecy. First, our special guest tells us the story of the 1917 apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal. Then, we discuss the 17th-century figure Coinneach Odhar, otherwise known as the Brahan Seer.   Enjoying the podcast? Please take a...

Today we welcome our third special guest: ancient Roman historian, classicist, and writer David Ballard! (You may know him as the narrator of Blanket Fort Radio Theater's A Knight of Another Sort , which the two of us also helped produce.) Today's episode is all about ancient Rome. First, Liz discusses the mythology of the strix, a mysterious birdlike creature, before Ballard educates us on his fa...

A very happy Thanksgiving to witches and feral Catholics alike! In keeping with the theme of Thanksgiving, we've rounded up two very different stories of family drama, both crazy enough to put your Republican uncle to shame. First, we explore the life of medieval St. Jadwiga, the only female "King" of Poland. Then, we discuss the Pendle-witch-adjacent Samlesbury witch trials of 1612. As always, it...

More 17th century fun this week! First, we dive into the scandal and intrigue of the Connecticut Witch Trials (more crazy Puritans!), and then we hop back across the pond to finally discuss the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Mass hysteria, disease, torture, and a truly unforgettable ensemble cast! Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Ema...

Pour yourself a cup of hot dirty wine and pull up a chair! Today's episode is all about Halloween: traditions, origins, history, and everything in between. We discuss the Catholic solemnity of Allhallowtide, including All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, then explore the pagan holiday of Samhain and its influence on Halloween as we know it today. Examples of Dies Irae in pop culture: https://www.yo...

Our fortieth (!!!) episode takes us back to Germany again, where we discuss the 17th century Bamberg witch trials: specifically, the imprisonment and execution of Johannes Junius. Then, we explore the life of St. Walpurga, including her syncretization with an ancient pagan archetype. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: sai...

Prepare your offerings, because today is our first-ever episode in Mexico! We discuss the apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to St. Juan Diego, then take a look at many different forms of syncretic Christianity and brujeria throughout the ages. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitc...

We're back in Ireland this week, discussing all things gaslighting, gatekeeping and, of course, girlbossing! In particular, we discuss the gruesome 1895 murder of Bridget Cleary. Then, we take a deep dive into the legend of Brigid: both the Celtic goddess and the saint who seems suspiciously similar... Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you....

We're on a boat, bitch: today's episode is all about the Titanic! Whether you've been a Titanic slut since childhood or you don't even know the ship's country of origin, there's something for everyone. Join us as we discuss the journey of Father Thomas Roussel Byles, the Catholic priest who has recently taken the very first step toward sainthood. Then, we explore two different stories of people wh...

Calling all fairytale sluts! (Philosopher sluts and historical accuracy sluts, maybe not so much.) This week we finally visit Switzerland, where we discuss the life and trial of 18th-century Anna Göldi, sometimes referred to as the "last witch" in Europe. Then, we hop back to the 12th century and examine the multiple legends surrounding the local saint Ida of Toggenburg.  Enjoying the podcast...

Welcome back to another episode where we air out all of England's ye olde dirty laundry, from political rivalries to occultist rituals to brutal executions. We discuss one of England's most famous and influential saints, 12th century martyr Thomas Becket, then explore the trials of Eleanor Cobham and Margery Jourdemayne, two of the earliest witch trials in England.  Enjoying the podcast? Plea...

We welcome another special guest this week, Hellenistic pagan witch Hannah Bute Howe, who gives us a much-needed overview of Greek magical beliefs and practices before we discuss Theoris of Lemnos, a fourth-century BC witch whose trial constitutes the most detailed account of a witch trial to survive from Classical Greece. Then, we discuss the controversial and mysterious story of Greek virgin mar...

In today's episode, we focus on two soldiers who couldn't be more different: 16th-century Spanish mystic and founder of the Jesuit Order St. Ignatius of Loyola, and first-century Celtic warrior queen Boudica. We talk sexist scholarship and Renaissance-era medicine, and play our favorite game: Those People Were Alive at the Same Time! Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscr...

Another listener request! And it MUST be examined on a hag-by-hag basis. Today we discuss the legendary Slavic folklore figure, Baba Yaga. Then, we take a look at one of the few saints shared by the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, warrior princess St. Olga of Kiev. And we have one question for Eastern Europe: what's up with all the conflagration?! Enjoying the podcast? Please take a...

We always say that there's nothing like a good, healthy gaggle of nuns. Nuns feature prominently in both of our stories today: first, we welcome our VERY FIRST guest storyteller, former Catholic missionary Madeline McDougall, as she tells the story of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower. Then, we discuss the crazy AF Louviers Possessions of 1652. You'll hear about naked priests...

Here's Part 2 of our Witches v. Catholics interrogation special! Be sure to check out Part 1 if you missed it, and join us next time for our regularly scheduled nonsense. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast Twitter: @saintsnwi...

Welcome to the two-part Saints & Witches special in which Sarah and Liz interrogate each other at gunpoint. Okay, it's not that serious. But hopefully it will answer any questions you might have about Catholicism, witchcraft, and all the weird stuff in between. Got questions we didn't answer? Stick around for Part 2, coming soon!  Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate/review/...

If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you know by now how we feel about King James. He’s not our favorite. Today we return to Scotland to discuss the North Berwick witch trials and the only post-Reformation Scottish saint, St. John Ogilvie. Get ready for angsty Jesuits, pubic hair, and a cow who fell in love. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate/review/subscribe. We'd love t...

Long week? Fold yourself up hot dog style and tune in for another episode of Saints & Witches! This episode takes us back to North Africa. [Including Egypt, which is in fact a part of Africa! Who knew?] We discuss the mega-important philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of Grace St. Augustine of Hippo, then explore the mystery and magic of the ancient Egyptian Westcar Papyrus. Child brides, croc...