The Thing About Witch Hunts

Witchcraft accusations continue to lead to death around the world. Join us for a rousing discussion of this global crisis happening now. Welcome to Witch Hunt, the podcast raising awareness of  the violent reality of modern witchcraft accusations. Rather than being a relic of the past, witchcraft accusations remain a devastating issue in many parts of the world, leading to violence, ostracization,...

In this episode, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore the complex relationships between religion, politics, and harmful practices in India. Joined by experts Arjun Philip George and Giresh Kumar J, they discuss: 1. The persistence of caste-based discrimination across religious lines in India 2. The role of religious texts and traditions in perpetuating gender inequality 3. Challenges in re...

In this episode of Witch Hunt, host Antonio Stuckey narrates the life and tragic fate of Martha Carrier, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials. Described by some contemporaries as a “rampant hag” and “the queen in hell,” Martha Carrier has long fascinated people with her take-no-grief attitude in court and her steadfast denial of guilt. Born Martha Allen in Andover, she married Thomas Carrier and fac...

In this gripping episode of Witch Hunt, host Josh Hutchinson unravels the shocking tale of George Burroughs, a Harvard-educated minister who became an unlikely victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  Imagine a respected minister accused of being the ringleader of witches and a servant of Satan. How did George Burroughs, once a village minister, find himself at the center of one of history's most in...

Hear the first court proceedings of the Salem Witch Trials: the questioning of Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, and Tituba on March 1 and 2, 1692. ⁠Listen to the full episode, "Salem Witch Hunt Saga: The First Arrests"⁠ Witch-Hunting in European and World History - Ronald Hutton Donate: End Witch Hunts UK Advocacy Trip Fund End Witch Hunts Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Massachuset...

Thank you for joining us for this narrative history of the Salem Witch Trials. This third part of our Salem Witch-Hunt 101 series focuses on the first arrests and interrogations of Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, and Tituba in late February and early March 1692.  On Witch Hunt, the people and key events are real. The examinations are taken directly from the historical record. The depositions of afflicte...

In this 15-minute episode, Jordan Alexander, chair of the UK’s National Working Group on Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA), joins Witch Hunt hosts Josh Hutchinson, Mary Bingham, and Sarah Jack. Jordan explores the complexities of spiritual and ritual abuse, providing concrete examples, discussing the UK’s systemic response, and highlighting the need for awareness and legislative changes. Prism Tra...

In this edition of Witch Hunt Victim Stories, Sarah Jack tells the story of Rebecca Nurse, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials, who was hanged on July 19, 1692. The story of Rebecca Nurse is tragic. Born Rebecca Towne in 1621, Rebecca was seventy-one years old when she was arrested, and she had been in bed a week when she was hauled away from home. She languished in chains more than three months be...

In this edition in our Witch Hunt Victim Stories series, Mary Bingham tells the story of Sarah Wildes, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  On July 2, 1692, Sarah Wildes was convicted of afflicting Mercy Lewis with malefic witchcraft. Learn about her life and trial in this poignant episode.  Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience Mary Beth Norton, In...

In this episode of Witch Hunt Victim Stories, host Mary Bingham delves into the life of Susannah Martin, born in Olney, England in 1621. The episode explores her early life, migration to Massachusetts, and subsequent hardships. Susannah faced accusations of infanticide and witchcraft amid legal battles over her father's estate. Despite numerous appeals, she and her family often lost in court,...

In this episode, guest host Mary Louise Bingham and special expert Jordan Alexander, chair of the UK’s National Working Group on Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA), join Witch Hunt hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack. Jordan shares his journey from the police force and safeguarding roles to advocacy, exploring the complexities of spiritual and ritual abuse, providing concrete examples, discussing...

In this edition in our Witch Hunt Victim Stories series, Antonio Infante tells the story of Elizabeth Howe, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  On June 30, 1692, Elizabeth Jackson Howe was convicted of bewitching Mary Walcott and Mercy Lewis. She was executed on July 19. Learn about her life and trial in this special episode. Please see also the following: Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft:...

In this first episode in our new Witch Hunt Victim Stories series, Josh Hutchinson tells the story of Sarah Good, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  In fact, Sarah Good and her daughters were all victims of the witch hunt. Unfortunately, Sarah was executed, her infant daughter died in jail, and daughter Dorothy was imprisoned in chains for nearly 9 months. Join us as we explore Sarah’s life and...

Mary Bingham of End Witch Hunts presents the case of Kimberly Felder, a mother who believed her daughter was possessed by demons. The exorcism Kimberly performed on her daughter at popular Centerville Beach shocked and horrified witnesses. Fortunately, the 11-year-old girl's life was saved by one of these witnesses. Violent exorcisms are harmful practices and examples of spiritual and ritual a...

In this episode, we travel to Namibia to meet Berrie Holtzhausen, founder of Alzheimer's Dementia Namibia and advocate against witchcraft accusations. He tells the story of how he met Ndjinaa, a woman chained for 20 years after she was accused of bewitching people and livestock to death. Learn how Berrie worked for Ndjinaa's freedom after discovering she was living with dementia, a conditi...

Welcome to Witch Hunt, where we uncover the ongoing crisis of modern witch hunts and harmful practices.  In this episode, we talk with Berrie Holtzhausen, founder of Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia. Berrie’s incredible journey to become a dementia advocate highlights his dedication to educating communities where those with dementia are often mistaken for harming their community with witchcraft. Hear...

In this brief episode, learn about the public interest litigation used by Sashiprava Bindhani to compel the Indian state of Odisha to take action against witch-branding, the practice of labeling people as witches, dayans, dahanis, or any other word used to mean a person using harmful magic. Around the world, this practice results in ostracism, trauma, physical and emotional harm, and even murder.

In this short episode, you will learn about the experiences which led Sashiprava Bindhani of Odisha state in India to advocate against witch-hunting and witch-branding. Dahani is an Oriya word with similar meaning as witch. In Sashiprava's words, "no woman is a dahani."

Sashiprava Bindhani, a human rights advocate and legal expert from Odisha, India, has dedicated her life to raising awareness of witch-hunting and advocating for the protection of vulnerable individuals. This impactful oral history conversation explores her life of advocating for individuals accused of witchcraft, examining the social ostracism, physical assaults, and the role of policy and legal...

In this brief episode, you'll hear the story of key events in Salem Village in February 1692.

What triggered the Salem Witch Trials? Join Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack on the 'Witch Hunt' podcast for this abridged edition of the second episode of their 'Salem Witch-Hunt 101' series. In this edition, Josh tells the story without interruption. Watch or listen as he expertly narrates the chilling events of February 1692 in Salem Village, focusing on the strange behaviors of A...

What triggered the Salem Witch Trials? Join Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack on the 'Witch Hunt' podcast for the second episode of their 'Salem Witch-Hunt 101' series. Josh narrates the chilling events of February 1692 in Salem Village, focusing on the strange behaviors of Abigail Williams and Betty Parris that ignited fears of witchcraft. He explores the harsh winter, social tension...

In this Bonus episode, we chat with Rachel Christ-Doane Director of Education for the Salem Witch Museum about their new artifacts for the exhibit, "Witches: Evolving Perceptions." The first case features four significant books from the 16th to 18th centuries: - A 1600 edition of Heinrich Kramer’s Malleus Maleficarum. - A 1586 edition of Johann Weyer’s De Praestigiis Daemonum. - A 1729 e...

Enjoy this bite-sized version of our conversation with Francis J. Bremer, historian of early New England and the Puritans on both sides of the Atlantic. We discuss who the Puritans were and whether they were zealous witch-hunters. Full Episode: The Puritans with Francis J. Bremer Massachusetts Historical Society, Papers of the Winthrop Family Purchase "Puritanism: A Very Short Introduction&qu...

Dive into the world of the Puritans with Dr. Francis J. Bremer, a historian with over fifty years of expertise in 17th-century New England and Puritanism. Dr. Bremer sheds light on the core beliefs, historical context, and diversity within Puritanism, including the differences between New England Puritans and those who stayed in England. He discusses  myths about Puritans as zealous witch hunters...