Saints & Witches

Fuck Around and Find Out: Sweden's official motto! In Episode 28, we fuck around in Sweden and find out about the trial of Malin Matsdotter and the 17th-century "Great Noise" witch trials. We also find out about their patron saint, St. Bridget of Sweden, one of the six patrons of Europe!  Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's h...

Can you believe it's been ONE WHOLE YEAR of Saints & Witches?? Because we can't. Today's theme, in typical S&W fashion, is perfectly clear: Belgium/Low Countries/France! We discuss the medieval Beguine movement and Blessed Marie of Oignies. Then, we explore the 17th century Roermond trial, the largest witch trial in Netherlands history. Axe murder! Miraculous teeth! We've got it all. Enjoy...

Welcome to Wales (wherever that is)! In this episode, we discuss the very first recorded witchcraft trial in Wales, that of Gwen ferch Ellis. Then, we hop back in time to explore the story of St. David, prophet and patron saint of Wales. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @sain...

For our SILVER episode, we return to medieval Germany to discuss the lives of two widows ostracized by their communities. We talk about St. Elizabeth of Hungary, an ascetic princess and the patron saint of the Third Order of St. Francis. Then, we discuss the witchcraft accusations against Katharina Kepler, mother of renowned astronomer and mathematician (math magician?) Johannes Kepler.  Enjo...

Liz is *sick* of Europe, so we're heading to America this week-- specifically, 19th century Tennessee! We discuss the Bell Witch, a mysterious entity which haunted a rural family in Robertson County. Then, we cover the Chattanooga pastor and Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan and his role in the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1878.  Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate/review/subscrib...

Welcome to The Bible, Part Two! Today we discuss one of the major figures in the New Testament, St. John the Baptist. We also pick up where we left off in the Old Testament and discuss Samuel, Saul, and the Witch of Endor. Beheadings, ventriloquism, and the dangers of female seduction await.  Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with...

We’re taking it WAY back this week— all the way back to the Bible, in fact! We discuss magic, myth, and misinformation (and misogyny!) as we explore the Exodus story and the life and legacy of St. Mary Magdalene.  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: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com I...

Today we take a closer look at the early medieval region of Gaul as we discuss the nomadic tribes that would later make up the peoples and cultures of Europe as we know it today. In particular, we look at the first Christian Frankish king Clovis I and his wife St. Clotilde. We also discuss Julius Caesar's systematic domination of Gaul during the Gallic Wars, and the history and mythology surroundi...

WE ARE IN THE SAME PLACE AGAIN! ...for one weekend. So of course we had to record an episode! And it's a big one: we finally get to the Salem Witch Trials! We also discuss the history of the Catholic Church in colonial America, specifically the founding of Maryland.  Enjoying the podcast? Please take a second to rate, review, and/or subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in...

Ah, Thanksgiving. Turkey, green bean casserole, and...genocide. In this episode, we focus on Native Americans and the effects of the colonization of North America by European settlers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. In particular, we discuss the life and legacy of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be canonized, and Leatherlips of the Wyandot, a Native American leader exec...

Denmark, you have stolen our hearts. You've got Vikings, you've got princesses, you've got Devil's pacts, you’re surprisingly woke?? Today we discuss the final sorcery-based lynchings in Denmark, including the trials and executions of Anne Palles and Johan Pistorius. We also discuss the reign of St. Canute IV and the definitive end of the Viking Age in Denmark. Enjoying the podcast? Please take a...

There are a lot of naughty souls and a lot of flesh prisons in this episode. We finally discuss Joan of Arc, then take a deep dive into heresy of all shapes and sizes in medieval France and elsewhere.  If you like the podcast, please take a second to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast Twitter:...

Rule #1 of midwifery: a baby is NOT a juice box. Today we take a deep dive into midwifery and childbirth rituals in the Middle Ages, and we discuss St. Margaret of Antioch and the 16th-century German midwife, Walpurga Hausmännin, who was accused of witchcraft, vampirism, and child murder.  Link to Sarah's crime novel, which came out on the 13th: https://www.amazon.com/Saint-Catastrophe-Sarah-Jilek...

It's ABOUT TIME we got to this topic! This week, we're discussing the martyr Sir Thomas More and Anne Boleyn, Queen of England and one of the wives of Henry VIII. Heads will literally roll.  If you like 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: @saintsandwitche...

Synthesize and bastardize: our middle names! Welcome to Episode 14, in which we tackle a big theme for Catholics and witches alike: prophecy! Liz discusses the prophecies and legends of Mother Shipton, and Sarah tells the story of St. Malachy and the Prophecy of the Popes.

It's time for the spooky spooky episode! We all know spooky season starts in September, so this week we're discussing werewolves. We'll talk about the dog-headed martyr St. Christopher as well as Peter Stumpf, the 16th century serial killer known as the Werewolf of Bedburg! The Monster Professor episode on werewolves: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-monster-professor/e/56272883 If you like th...

Welcome back to Britain! This week it's all about alchemy as we discuss occultists John Dee and Edward Kelley, as well as the 10th century Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Dunstan.  If you like the podcast, please take a second to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast Twitter: @saintsnwitches

We've got a bone to pick this week, and it's right there in the title. We're in Poland discussing Karol Wojtyła (better known as St. Pope John Paul II the Great) and the folklore and magic of Poland, including the trial of Barbara Zdunk, who was accused of burning down the town of Rößel in 1806. That's the 19th century! What the heck, Poland??  Remember to leave us a rating/review, and don't...

Welcome to Germany, the home of freelance gravediggers and uncomfortable Rorschach tests! In this episode, we cover the trial and execution of the Pappenheimer family. Then, we discuss the life and legacy of St. Hildegard of Bingen, the Sibyl of the Rhine. Grab a breakfast beer and light your Hand of Glory, because it's about to get strange. Also, make sure to check out Episode 4 of A Knight of An...

Grab the biggest penis out of the nest, because it's time for another episode of Saints & Witches! A listener request takes us to Belgium, where we discuss the strange and tragic tale of St. Dymphna and the history of the Spa Witch Trial and of witchcraft in the Low Countries, including a deep dive into the Malleus Maleficarum.  We're also thrilled to announce a new podcast that both of us helped...

Scotland has absolutely zero chill, as we see in this episode. A request by a listener leads us to Scotland, where we discuss several Great Scottish Witch Trials (and the remarkable 17th century testimony of Isobel Gowdie) and St. Columba, a patron saint of Scotland and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. Get ready for fairies, the Loch Ness Monster, and the devil’s penis. If you like the podca...

It's time for everyone's favorite moment in history: the Spanish Inquisition! This week we cover the life of St. Teresa of Avila and the Basque Witch Trials. Spells, seizures, and strongly-worded letters abound. If you like the podcast, please take a second to rate and/or review us! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram:...

Hi, everyone! Because S&W is recorded in advance and only releases every other week, we often don't get to comment on current events. However, we wanted to take just a couple minutes to discuss the events unfolding in the United States (and all over the world). In addition to our Instagram post with donation information and book recommendations, here are a couple more educational resources to...

In this episode, we return to France! Liz discusses the priest Urbain Grandier and the Loudun Possessions and witch trials, and Sarah tells the story of the life and martyrdom of St. Jean de Brebeuf, a Jesuit priest and missionary to New France. If you like the podcast, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com...

In this Egypt-themed episode, Sarah tells the story of St. Mary of Egypt, and Liz discusses the pagan philosopher, mathematician, and scholar Hypatia.  If you like the podcast, please take a second to rate, review, and subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us: Email: saintsandwitchespodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast Twitter: @saintsnwitches