The Thing About Witch Hunts

In honor of International Women's Day 2026, End Witch Hunts hosted a powerful panel discussion bringing together advocates, legal experts, journalists, and survivors to raise awareness about witchcraft accusations targeting women in Nigeria and across Africa. This conversation is part of the global "Give to Gain" initiative — the theme of International Women's Day 2026 — calling on individuals, organizations, and governments to give resources, empathy, legal support, and voice so that women accused of witchcraft can gain justice, safety, and dignity.Witchcraft accusations disproportionately target women, especially those who are poor, widowed, elderly, or otherwise vulnerable. Accusation can mean social ostracism, physical violence, displacement, imprisonment, and even death. Our panelists shared firsthand experience, legal expertise, and on-the-ground advocacy work illuminating what is happening in Nigeria today and what all of us can do about it.How witchcraft accusations specifically harm women and compound existing inequalityThe psychological toll of accusation, including self-doubt and mental health impactsLegal protections that exist in Nigeria and why they are not being usedHow women can seek justice through courts, NGOs, and community channels even without financial resourcesThe role of patriarchy, poverty, and community silence in perpetuating accusationWhy empowerment and financial independence are protective factorsHow diaspora communities outside Nigeria are funding witchcraft accusations back homeWhat governments, international organizations, media, and individuals can give to create real changeThe critical importance of reaching rural communities in local languagesDr. Leo Igwe is the director of Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW), an initiative working to end witch hunts in Africa by 2030, and the Critical Thinking Social Empowerment Foundation. A board member of Humanist International and the Humanist Association of Nigeria, Dr. Igwe earned his doctoral degree from the University of Bayreuth, Germany, where he wrote his thesis on witchcraft accusations.Chief Magistrate Safiya Musa Salihu is a Chief Magistrate in Bauchi State, Nigeria, and Vice Chairman of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Bauchi branch. She has trained paralegals across multiple communities and works fearlessly to ensure that accused women have access to justice.Hauwa Mundi is a broadcast journalist with Radio Nigeria — the largest radio network in Africa with over 40 million listeners — a social media influencer, and a member of Advocacy for Alleged Witches. She uses her platform to challenge belief in witchcraft and amplify the stories of the accused.Maimunat Mohammed is an Information Officer at a university in Minna and representative of the Niger State Branch of Advocacy for Alleged Witches. She shared her own experience of being accused alongside her mother following her father's death, and her years of advocating for her family in the face of community hostility.Dr. Barrister is the National President of the Association of Women against Gender-Based Violence and founder of the ADI Foundation in Bayelsa State, Nigeria, working for justice and security for vulnerable persons.Article by Dr. Leo Igwe Give to Gain: Justice for Women Accused of Witchcraft in Africa Advocacy for Alleged Witches (AfAW) End Witch HuntsInternational Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Association of Women against Gender-Based Violence Radio NigeriaUN Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8

What does American literature reveal about how a society imagines justice, belonging, and the power of women? Samaine Lockwood, Associate Professor of English at George Mason University and the 2026 Fenwick Fellow, has spent years tracing that question through one of the most enduring stories in American culture: the Salem witch trials. Her fellowship project, Tituba Indian: The History of an American Cultural Figure  follows Tituba Indian from the historical record of 1692 through two centuries of novels, plays, and reimaginings to ask what her story has been made to carry and why.In This EpisodeHow the Salem witch trials became one of the most reimagined episodes in American literary historyWhy Tituba Indian sits at the center of debates about race, gender, and civic belonging across two centuries of American cultureHow culture reuses the pastHow Ann Petry's Tituba of Salem Village broke from literary tradition decades before most readers noticedWhy Arthur Miller's The Crucible remains complicated and how teachers are beginning to challenge it in the classroomThe real significance of the witch as a figure in literature, from colonial revival to contemporary young adult fictionWhere to find the vast archive of Salem witch trial literature that predates copyright, freely available onlineAbout Samaine Lockwood Samaine Lockwood is an Associate Professor of English at George Mason University, specializing in 19th century American literature and gender and sexuality studies. She is the 2026 Fenwick Fellow, a research fellowship funded by the George Mason Fenwick Library supporting her book in progress, Tituba Indian and the History of an American Cultural Figure. Her previous book, Archives of Desire: the Queer Historical Work of New England Regionalism, was published by the University of North Carolina Press in 2015.Authors and Works Mentioned in This EpisodeAnn Petry: Tituba of Salem Village; The Narrows; Biography of Harriet Tubman. First black woman to write a bestselling novel in the United States.Maryse Conde: I, Tituba: Black Witch of SalemHenry William Herbert: The Fair Puritan (written 1850s, published 1870s)Elizabeth Gaskell: Lois the WitchCharlotte Perkins Gilman (with Grace Ellery Channing): Untitled Salem play, 1890, held at the Schlesinger Library, HarvardPauline Elizabeth Hopkins: Fiction writer, first Black woman editor of a magazine, key figure in the Boston African American community at the turn of the 20th centuryArthur Miller: The CrucibleMarian Starkey: The Devil in MassachusettsMatilda Joslyn Gage: Woman, Church, and State (1890s)Saidiya Hartman: Venus in Two ActsGretchen Adams: The Specter of SalemHenry James: The Turn of the Screw and Other Ghost StoriesKimberly Bellflower: John Proctor is the Villain (Broadway, 2024)Samaine Lockwood: Archives of Desire: the Queer Historical Work of New England Regionalism Keith Clark: The Radical Fiction of Ann PetryWhere to Find These Works Most works published before 1923 are in the public domain and freely available through Open Library and Internet Archive. For titles still in print, support this podcast and End Witch Hunts by purchasing through our Bookshop.org storefront: bookshop.org/shop/endwitchhuntsEvery purchase (of any title) through Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores and helps fund the work of End Witch Hunts when you purchase through our affiliate link.LinksPublications by Samaine LockwoodUniversity Libraries has named Samaine Lockwood, associate professor of English, the 2026 Fenwick FellowBuy Books Mentioned in Today's Episode Sign the Petition to Exonerate the Boston 8 The History of Witch Trial Exonerations in Massachusetts About the MA Witch Hunt Justice ProjectPurchase a MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Memorial Pin

Most people meet Tituba through Arthur Miller. Nicole Brooks met her differently. The Canadian artist, producer, composer, and performer spent over a decade creating Obeah Opera, a fully sung a cappella theatrical work that centers Tituba and the other women of Salem as healers, wise women, and people who loved and were loved. In this conversation Nicole opens up about the research, the music, the controversy, and the story she believes America is ready to hear.What You Will LearnWho Tituba was beyond The CrucibleWhy Nicole positions every woman in the story as a healerHow the word Obeah appears in Puritan records and what that tells usThe love story at the heart of Obeah OperaHow the girls who made accusations were themselves silenced and powerlessWhat Tituba's name means in YorubaWhy an all-female cast changes how the story landsHow music makes the heaviest history bearableGuest Nicole Brooks, creator of Obeah OperaResources and Links Sign the Petition to Exonerate the Boston 8The History of Witch Trial Exonerations in MassachusettsAbout the MA Witch Hunt Justice ProjectPurchase a MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Memorial Pin

About This EpisodeWhat if Boston's colonial past held witch trial stories just as gripping as Salem's but almost entirely overlooked? This week, Sarah and Josh sit down with D. Brenton Simons, President Emeritus and former CEO of American Ancestors (New England Historic Genealogical Society), to uncover the witches, criminals, and scandal-makers that Boston's official history left out.D. Brenton Simons spent 18 years leading American Ancestors, one of the world's foremost genealogical organizations with over 500,000 members in 139 countries. He is the author of Witches, Rakes, and Rogues, a collection of true Boston stories spanning 1630 to 1741, and was honored by King Charles III for his contributions to Anglo-American history.Boston had a witchcraft period spanning over a century, and the stories from it look nothing like what popular culture has taught us. Brenton walks us through cases that defy every stereotype, including a wealthy, well-connected woman whose "disagreeable" personality made her a target after her husband's death, an Irish Catholic servant whose foreign language and customs terrified a Puritan community, and women whose only real crime was practicing folk medicine and refusing to be pushed around.The research behind this book took five years and required digging through court records, personal diaries, and archives. The result is a portrait of real people navigating a world where the devil felt as immediate and dangerous as a neighbor's grudge.The woman who appears as a background character in The Scarlet Letter and the real, devastating story behind her nameHow the Goodwin children's afflictions during the Goody Glover case reveal something very human about fear and attentionThe connection between Mercy Short's post-traumatic experiences and the Salem trialsWhy the discovery of a black cat may have saved Boston from a second wave of witch huntingWhat happened to accusations that never became trials, and why those stories matter just as muchFor descendants of Boston and Connecticut witch trial victims, this episode is essential listening. Brenton discusses his research connecting Mary Hale, Winifred Benham Sr., and the Benham family line across generations and colonies. If you have colonial New England ancestry, you may have more connections to these stories than you realize.American Ancestors / New England Historic Genealogical SocietyAmerican Ancestors on YouTubeWitches, Rakes, and Rogues by D. Brenton Simons End Witch HuntsThe Thing About Witch Hunts is produced by End Witch Hunts, the only U.S. nonprofit dedicated to witchcraft accusation awareness. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts and on YouTube.If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share it with anyone who loves colonial history, genealogy, or untold American stories.

What happens when spiritual beliefs are used to justify harm against children in the United States? In this episode, Josh Hutchinson, Sarah Jack, and guest host Mary Bingham explore Spiritual and Ritual Abuse, known as SARA, and why it remains a largely unrecognized crisis in American communities. The team examines how belief-driven violence crosses every demographic and faith background, discusses the landmark case of 3-year-old Arely Procter, and raises critical questions about accountability when religious freedom is invoked as a legal defense.What Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA) is and how international bodies define itHow SARA manifests in the United States across faiths, communities, and demographicsWhy cases of belief-driven child abuse often go unrecognized or are prosecuted without acknowledging the spiritual motivations behind themHow familiar cases like Elizabeth Smart and Ruby Franke fall under the SARA umbrellaThe story of Arely Procter and the ongoing legal proceedings in Santa Clara County, CaliforniaWhat the Racial Justice Act of 2020 is and how it is being used in Arely's caseWhy the United States lacks a centralized system for monitoring spiritual abuse-and what End Witch Hunts is doing about itWhat research tells us about the prevalence of supernatural beliefs in AmericaMary Bingham is a director of End Witch Hunts and a researcher focused on spiritual and ritual abuse cases spanning historical witch trials through present-day prosecutions. Her case research and victim profiles are available on the Sarah Wildes 1692 YouTube channel, including a dedicated playlist for World Day Against Witch Hunts 2025.SARA (Spiritual and Ritual Abuse): Abuse where an offender uses spiritual, superstitious, or traditional beliefs to justify harming others, or uses a victim's own beliefs to manipulate and control them.Harmful Traditional Practices: The United Nations' terminology for practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, reported in at least 60 nations.Racial Justice Act of 2020 (California): Legislation ensuring that racial, ethnic, or national origin does not influence criminal investigations intentionally or unintentionally.National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)National Deaf Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 855-812-1001 or text START to 88788.Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Call or text 800-422-4453.If you are experiencing spiritual or ritual abuse in the home, trained advocates are available around the clock.Hosts: Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack Guest Host: Mary Bingham Produced by: End Witch Hunts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizationNew episodes weekly. Available wherever you listen to podcasts. The Thing About Witch Hunts has been heard in 100+ countries worldwide.LinksEnd Witch Hunts Project: End Spiritual and Ritual Abuse SARA Cases YouTube Playlist National Domestic Violence Hotline Podcast Episode: Jordan Alexander Discusses Spiritual and Ritual Abuse Podcast Episode: Witchcraft Beliefs Around the World with Boris Gershman Article by Mary Bingham: Witch Hunting from Salem to San Jose: Dorothy Good and Arely Proctor Article by Mary Bingham: The Psychology Behind Witchcraft AccusationsLaw & Crime Network YouTube Video on Arely Proctor Racial Justice Act Defense https://youtu.be/4DJnPgnRVmY?si=8zSMLDGpT0hLw-YL

Wales has something most countries don't: complete, intact court records from every witch trial held in the Court of Great Sessions. Author Mari Ellis Dunning used these archives to write Witch, a historical novel set in 16th century Wales.About the novel:Witch follows Doli, a Welsh young woman desperate to have a baby who seeks help from a local soothsayer. The story explores what happens when accusations arise in a community caught between old Welsh traditions and new English Protestant law.The historical context:Five witch trials in Wales resulted in death sentences. The records show fascinating details, including Gwen ferch Ellis's case where "ignoramus" (case dismissed) was physically crossed out before her conviction.Mari discusses the tension between licensed and unlicensed midwives, how the Royal College of Physicians excluded women from medicine, and why lay healers were often more effective than the male physicians who replaced them. Class boundaries determined which accusations progressed to trial.The conversation explores:How Mari balanced creating relatable, nuanced characters while staying true to the limited agency women actually had in the 16th centuryWhy Wales's cultural identity and the conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism shaped different attitudes toward folk practicesThe connection between historical witch trials and modern medical misogyny, political rhetoric weaponizing "witch," and systemic violence against womenLinksBuy the book: Witsh by Mari Ellis Dunning Guest Article: Gwen ferch Ellis: The first woman in Wales to be sentenced to death on charges of witchcraft

Before her execution, Governor John Winthrop Jr. treated Mary Barnes as a patient. He recorded her symptoms, prescribed medicines, and tracked the costs in his medical notebook. In 1663, she was executed for witchcraft in Hartford, Connecticut.This episode isn’t about the execution. It’s about fractured communities, failed institutions, and real people with lives that existed long before the gallows. It’s about what happens when a doctor’s patient becomes a community’s scapegoat, when churches wage war with themselves, and when the one leader who had stopped witch executions leaves town at the worst possible moment.Between 1647 and 1663, Connecticut hanged more people for witchcraft than any other New England colony. Then it became the first to implement legal protections that saved lives, twenty-nine years before Salem would erupt. Understanding that transformation requires understanding Hartford’s breaking point.Understanding how communities fracture, how institutions fail their people, and how fear finds convenient targets in those who don’t fit strict norms teaches us to recognize these patterns, whether in 1663 Hartford or anywhere scapegoating takes root.This is the story of what happened when a doctor’s patient became a witch. When religious anchors became battlegrounds. When neighbors turned on neighbors. And eventually, when a community chose differently.In May 2023, Connecticut officially absolved all 34 witch trial victims.The Thing About Witch Hunts examines historical witch trials and contemporary persecution patterns worldwide. Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore the context that makes scapegoating possible and how communities can choose differently.*End Witch Hunts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizationLinksConnecticutwitchtrials.orgListen to more CT Witch Trials Podcast EpisodesBuy the Book: Before Salem: Witch Hunting in the Connecticut River Valley 1647-1663 What books should I read about the Connecticut Witch Trials? End Witch Hunts NonprofitSalem Witch Trials Daily Program

How did 19th century Maryland pro-slavery advocates weaponize witch trial narratives against Connecticut abolitionists? Returning guest Dr. Richard Ross III reveals a fabricated 1848 witch trial story designed to discredit Connecticut's anti-slavery movement following the Amistad U. S. Supreme Court case victory.This conversation explores the intersection of witch trial history and American slavery through the curious case of Juliana Cox, a completely fictional Connecticut witch whose story appeared in Maryland newspapers to embarrass Connecticut abolitionists. We consider how missing colonial documents created space for propaganda, examine the real Connecticut witch trials that were hidden for generations, and discuss how witch trial rhetoric became a political weapon in debates over slavery and abolition.Dr. Ross shares research on how the Wyllys family papers disappeared into private collections, why Connecticut's witch trial history remained largely unknown until the 20th century, and the deliberate creation of a witch trial hoax borrowed from English folklore sources to serve pro-slavery political goals.Connecticut witch trial records and their disappearance into private collectionsThe Amistad trial and Connecticut abolitionist movementFabricated witch trial narratives as political propagandaHow pro-slavery advocates compared abolitionists to Salem witch trial accusersThe real witch trials of colonial Connecticut finally documentedAlice Young: Connecticut's first executed witchExamining bodies for witch marks in colonial New EnglandLiterary and political uses of witch trial rhetoric in 19th century AmericaDr. Richard Ross III is a historian and Professor Emeritus from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut, where he taught a seminar on New England witch trials for over ten years. He is the author of Before Salem: Witch Hunting in the Connecticut River Valley, 1647-1663 and has conducted extensive research on colonial Connecticut witch trials and 19th century American social history.Connecticut witch trials, slavery and witchcraft, Amistad trial, abolition movement, colonial Connecticut, witch trial propaganda, Richard Ross historian, Alice Young witch trial, Connecticut abolitionists, slavery history, colonial New England, witch trial records, 19th century America, anti-slavery movement, political propaganda, witch hunt history, Maryland newspapersThe Thing About Witch Hunts explores historical witch trials and contemporary witch persecution worldwide. Hosted by End Witch Hunts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded by Sarah Jack.LinksConnecticutwitchtrials.orgBuy the Book: Before Salem: Witch Hunting in the Connecticut River Valley 1647-1663 Buy the Book: Contagion in Prussia, 1831 Buy the Book: American Body Snatchers End Witch Hunts NonprofitSalem Witch Trials Daily Program

Historian Mary W. Craig returns to discuss her new book, *A History of Scottish Witches: The Devil’s Handmaidens, which traces the arc from the 1563 Witchcraft Act through its abolition in 1736.Craig explores how beliefs that had existed for generations became capital crimes, examining the theological frameworks, political upheavals, and social structures that shaped prosecutions. The conversation moves from John Knox’s influence on Scottish law to the chaos of 1661-62, when local courts abandoned proper procedures.Drawing on trial records and historical documents, Craig discusses who was accused, how interrogations were conducted, and why the trauma made Scottish descendants harder to trace than their New England counterparts. She also reflects on what medieval Scottish communities believed before the Reformation and how those beliefs were reinterpreted.*A History of Scottish Witches* will be available February 2025 from Pen and Sword Books and is now available for pre-order.**Keywords:** Scottish witch trials, Mary W. Craig, Scottish history, 1563 Witchcraft Act, Reformation Scotland, historical research, witch trial records, social history, legal history Scotland​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​LinksBuy the Book: A History of Scottish Witches: The Devil's Handmaidens Buy the Book: A Brief History of Time by Stephen HawkingBuy the Book: The Hammer of Witches Mary W. Craig cohosts the podcast "Borders Bletherings" MaryW.Craig.comEnd Witch Hunts NonprofitSalem Witch Trials Daily Program

Episode OverviewClinical health psychologist Peter Mintir Amadu explains the hidden mental health emergency affecting nearly 500 women accused of witchcraft in Northern Ghana and the innovative model transforming their lives.Women accused of witchcraft face a devastating reality: up to 90% suffer from severe depression, PTSD rates exceed 80%, and many live in camps for over 20 years. They've lost everything: family, livelihood, dignity, and hope.But mental health support alone isn't enough. As one survivor told Amadu: "I can sleep now, but when I wake up, I'm hungry. What happens to me?"Initiatives that combine mental health intervention with economic empowerment, creating sustainable change through advocacy, rehabilitation, therapy, livelihood training, and community engagement is being explored. This locally-developed model addresses both psychological trauma and practical survival needs.Ghana faces a 98% mental health treatment gap with fewer than 200 psychologists for 30+ million people. Yet TOLEC is proving that culturally-grounded, resource-conscious solutions can work, from teletherapy programs to training religious leaders as mental health advocates.TOLEC's work extends to prison mental health, maternal psychological care, youth substance abuse prevention, and school-based interventions, all driven by data and local innovation.International collaboration opportunities exist in capacity building, research partnerships, digital health technology, and advocacy. The model is ready to scale. What's needed is global support for local expertise.For organizations seeking meaningful partnerships in African mental health innovation, culturally-responsive trauma care, or women's empowerment initiatives.Keywords: mental health innovation Africa, witchcraft accusations Ghana, trauma-informed development, sustainable mental health programs, international mental health partnerships, women's rights Ghana, community psychology, teletherapy developing countries#MentalHealthInnovation #GlobalMentalHealth #WomensEmpowerment #AfricanSolutions #EndWitchcraftAccusations #TraumaCareLinksTotal Life Enhancement Center, GhanaAmnesty International, GhanaEnd Witch HuntsWhy Witch Hunts are not just a Dark Chapter from the PastINAWARAInternational Alliance to End Witch Hunts

What is folklore and how does it connect to witch hunts? Join us for an author talk with Professor Owen Davies and Dr. Ceri Houlbrook from the University of Hertfordshire, discussing their new book Folklore: A Journey Through the Past and Present. Discover how folklore shapes our daily lives, from cheese rolling traditions to social media rumors.Episode Highlights:• Folklore definition and what folklore actually means today• British folklore traditions and American folklore customs explored• How folklore practices became legal evidence in Salem witch trials• The three types of British witches: conflict witches, accidental witches, and outcast witches• Folk devils versus theological devils in witch hunt history• Spectral evidence, pricking tests, touch tests, and folk magic in historical witch accusations• Why debunked theories like the ergot explanation persist in popular culture• How contemporary folklore evolves through podcasts and social media• The ritual year framework and material culture in folklore studies• Magical thinking and supernatural beliefs across cultures• How folklore cycles between revival and declineWhether you’re studying folklore definition, researching folklore examples, or interested in folklore and popular culture, this author talk explores how folklore studies reveals patterns in human behavior across time.Pick up Folklore: A Journey Through the Past and Present at https://bookshop.org/shop/endwitchhunts to support our work and explore opportunities to study folklore at the University of Hertfordshire’s MA folklore program.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​LinksBuy Book: Folklore: A Journey Through the Past and Present⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube⁠⁠The Thing About Witch HuntsThe Thing About Salem website

Enjoy this  in-depth author interview with New York Times bestselling author Kathleen Kent. Kathleen opens up about her writing process, her journey from aspiring writer to published novelist, and the craft behind transforming family history into compelling historical fiction.Kathleen's debut novel, The Heretic's Daughter, tells the story of her ancestor Martha Carrier, who was executed during the Salem Witch Trials on August 19, 1692. Martha was from Andover, the town with the most accused witches was blamed for a smallpox epidemic that killed 13 people. Even when her children were tortured into confessing against her, Martha refused to admit to crimes she didn't commit.This episode offers invaluable insights for aspiring novelists and historical fiction writers, covering everything from research techniques to finding your voice as a writer. Whether you're working on your first novel or looking to deepen your craft, Kathleen's experience and teaching expertise provide practical guidance for writers at every level.Kathleen Kent is a New York Times bestselling author and member of the Texas Institute of Letters. Her novels include:The Heretic's Daughter (David J. Langum Sr. Award for American Historical Fiction, Will Rogers Medallion Award)The Traitor's WifeThe Outcasts (American Library Association "Top Pick" for Historical Fiction)The Dime, The Burn, and The Pledge (Edgar Award-nominated crime trilogy)Black WolfKathleen teaches writing workshops and has worked with Texas Writes to mentor aspiring authors.Kathleen's journey from aspiring writer to published authorThe writing process behind The Heretic's DaughterResearch techniques for historical fiction writersHow to balance historical accuracy with storytellingFinding and developing your unique voice as a writerWorking with family history and sensitive historical materialNavigating the publishing processTeaching writing and what aspiring novelists need to knowTransitioning between historical fiction and crime fiction genresMartha Carrier's powerful story of resistanceThe Andover witch trials and why this town had the most accusationsThe 1690 smallpox epidemic and its connection to witch accusationsHow children were tortured into testifying against their parentsCotton Mather's role in documenting the trialsThe legacy of Salem Witch Trials victimshistorical fiction writing, Kathleen Kent, The Heretic's Daughter, writing process, aspiring novelists, Salem Witch Trials, Martha Carrier, Andover witch trials, writing advice, author interview, historical research, novel writing, writing workshops, craft of writing, historical fiction authors, publishing advice#WritingCommunity #HistoricalFiction #AuthorInterview #WritingAdvice #KathleenKent #SalemWitchTrials #NovelWriting #WritingPodcastLinksKathleen Kent WebsitePurchase the novel: The Heretics Daughter by Kathleen KentSupport our Podcast by purchasing books through our affiliate link to End Witch Hunts BookshopThe Thing About Salem YouTube⁠The Thing About Salem Patreon⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube⁠⁠The Thing About Witch HuntsThe Thing About Salem website

Is The Witch of Blackbird Pond historical fact or beloved fiction? Museum educators Martha Smart and Gillie Johnson from the Wethersfield Historical Society pull back the curtain on Elizabeth George Speare's classic novel by revealing what she got right and what she invented. This episode demonstrates why Connecticut's real witch trials deserve more attention than they've gotten.Discover the true story of Katherine Harrison, whose 1669 witch trial revealed the dangerous reality for independent women in Puritan Connecticut. Learn why Gershom Bulkeley, a real historical figure who appears in the novel helped end witch executions in Connecticut by declaring he'd seen no legally proven case of witchcraft. From the Charter Oak legend to the history of slavery in colonial Connecticut, this conversation goes far beyond the novel to explore what life was really like in 1680s Wethersfield and whose stories have been left out of the history books.The real Katherine Harrison witch trial and how it differed from the novel's dramatic courtroom sceneWhy Connecticut's witch trials ended decades before Salem's panic beganHow The Witch of Blackbird Pond has shaped—and sometimes distorted—Wethersfield's historical identityWhat Elizabeth George Speare got wrong about Puritan social customs, trade, and the treatment of outsidersThe truth behind the Charter Oak legend and Connecticut's resistance to British ruleMartha Smart - Research and Reference Librarian, Wethersfield Historical SocietyGillie Johnson - Museum Educator, Wethersfield Historical SocietyLearn more at wethersfieldhistory.org, where you can explore their database of people of color in Wethersfield's history.Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond and Connecticut's colonial-era witch trials, including the 1669 case of Katherine Harrison in Wethersfield, form an important part of the state's historical narrative, though they remain less widely recognized than their Salem counterparts.LinksWethersfieldhistory.orgWebb Deane Stevens MuseumPurchase the book: The Witch of Blackbird Pond from our nonprofit bookshopConnecticut Witch Trial HistoryEnd Witch Hunts Nonprofit

In this episode, Josh and Sarah speak with the creative team behind "The Witch of Woodbury," a theatrical production at Connecticut's Glebe House Museum that brings 17th-century witch trial victims to life through performance.Featured Guests:Linda Barr-Gale - Actress portraying Moll Cramer for 13 years and production writerLoriann Witte - Director of Glebe House Museum, portraying Rebecca GreensmithMaribeth Cummings - Actress portraying Katherine Harrison for 5 yearsVail Barrett - Actor portraying accuser Thomas AllynKey Topics:The legend of Moll Cramer, the "Witch of Woodbury" who was banished to Tophet RoadConnecticut's witch trial history from 1647-1663, including 11 executionsHow Governor John Winthrop Jr. transformed Connecticut's approach to witchcraft accusationsAccused Witch Katherine Harrison's well-documented case and its role in changing spectral evidence standardsExecuted woman Rebecca Greensmith's role in the Hartford Witch Panic of 1662The perspective of accusers like Thomas Allyn and the climate of fear in colonial ConnecticutUsing theatrical performance to make history accessible and memorable for modern audiencesHistorical Context: The performance emphasizes the stark differences between Connecticut's evolving legal standards under Winthrop and the later Salem trials.Learn More:Glebe House MuseumConnecticut Witch Trial HistoryEnd Witch Hunts Nonprofit

Episode Description:Just saw Wicked: For Good (Wicked Part 2) and wondering what it all means? The sequel to 2024's blockbuster Wicked movie starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande delivers the pure magic and joy of Wicked's fairytale storytelling while also serving as a mirror reflecting our world's darkest patterns of persecution. Join hosts Sarah Jack and Josh Hutchinson for a spoiler-filled celebration of this magical film as they explore both the enchantment of the story and the surprisingly relevant themes hiding behind flying monkeys, sparkly shoes, and that iconic green skin.From Gregory Maguire's beloved novel to the Broadway phenomenon with music by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked has captured hearts worldwide. This sequel delivers stunning musical numbers, an enchanting fairytale ending, and America's greatest modern fairy story—while also offering profound insights about our world. Discover why Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Dorothy, and the Wizard of Oz create a story that's both entertainment magic and meaningful social commentary.From the breathtaking songs like "For Good" to the animals in cages vault scene that's impossible to look away from, this episode explores how the Wicked movie with Jonathan Bailey and Jeff Goldblum delights audiences while helping us understand who gets labeled "wicked"—and who decides.What You'll Explore:The pure magic and joy of Wicked's fairytale storytellingStandout musical moments and how the Broadway songs translate to filmThe chilling parallels between Oz's animal persecution and real-world witch huntsElphaba and Glinda's friendship, sisterhood, and the choices that change everythingWhy the treatment of talking animals in Oz mirrors modern oppressionHow Dorothy's witch hunt against Elphaba reflects real accusation patternsWhy Nessarose, Boq, and Fiyero's transformations matter for understanding persecutionHow the word "witch" is weaponized as a political tool todayWhether movies like Wicked help or harm the fight against modern persecutionDeep dive into Cynthia Erivo's Elphaba and Ariana Grande's GlindaThis is the next installment in our ongoing look at Wicked and Oz! If you haven't already, be sure to check out our previous episodes "Witchcraft and Stagecraft: Unmasking Wicked's Magic with Paul Laird and Jane Barnette" and "Wicked Movie: The Making of a Witch" to explore how this beloved story connects to real witch trial history and contemporary persecution.Content Warning: This episode includes movie spoilers and discusses themes of persecution, banishment, and contemporary witch hunts affecting millions globally.Ready to see beyond the emerald curtain? This isn't your childhood Oz anymore—and that's exactly the point. But it's also a wicked good time.For more information about ending witch hunts or to get involved, visit EndWitchHunts.orgKeywords: Wicked For Good, Wicked Part 2, Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Elphaba, Glinda, Fiyero, Dorothy, Wizard of Oz, animals in Oz, Wicked sequel, Broadway musical, Stephen Schwartz, Gregory Maguire, Wicked songs, For Good, Wicked movie explained, witch hunts, Wicked themes, Wicked analysisLinksWatch Episode: Witchcraft and Stagecraft: Unmasking Wicked’s Magic with Paul Laird and Jane BarnetteWatch Episode: Wicked Movie: The Making of a WitchWatch Episode: Ghana’s Outcast Camps: A Conversation with the Coalition Against Witchcraft Accusations Sign the Amnesty International Petition for Ghana Anti Witchcraft Legislation Support our Nonprofit: Buy an Oz bookSign the Massachusetts Exoneration Petition

In May 1692, one of Boston's most respected citizens walked into a Salem courtroom—and the accusers couldn't even identify him. Captain John Alden Jr., son of Mayflower passengers and decorated war hero, seemed an unlikely target for witchcraft accusations. But his connections to Native Americans and the French made him dangerous in the eyes of wartime Massachusetts.What happened when Salem's witch hunt reached beyond the village to pull in a prominent Bostonian with impeccable colonial credentials? This episode examines how Captain Alden's examination revealed the absurdity and danger of the spectral evidence system and how his escape became one of the trial period's most dramatic moments.From his parents' legendary Plymouth courtship to his own flight from justice, Captain Alden's story shows us who could be accused, who could survive, and what it took to navigate Salem's machinery of suspicion.Episode Highlights:John Alden Sr. and Priscilla: The last surviving Mayflower passenger and the marriage that inspired LongfellowCaptain Alden's controversial fur trading and the rumors that made him a targetThe chaotic May 31st examination where accusers needed promptingThe touch test, the sword, and the claims of "Indian Papooses"His September escape to Duxbury and surprising returnKey Figures: Captain John Alden Jr., John & Priscilla Alden, Judges Bartholomew Gedney and John Richards, Rev. Samuel Willard, Robert CalefThe Thing About Salem examines the people, places, and events of the 1692 Salem witch trials. New episodes weekly.LinksThe Thing About Salem YouTube⁠The Thing About Salem Patreon⁠The Thing About Witch Hunts YouTube⁠The Thing About Witch HuntsThe Thing About Salem website

Episode Description:Massachusetts has an opportunity to make history, and you can be a part of it. On November 25, 2025, Bill H.1927 goes before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary. This legislation will exonerate 8 individuals convicted of witchcraft in Boston and recognize everyone else who suffered accusations across Massachusetts. Between 1648 and 1693, more than 200 people were formally charged with witchcraft in Massachusetts. Only 31 from Salem have been cleared. The rest have been forgotten—until now.Co-hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, who helped co-found the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project and successfully passed Connecticut's witch trial absolution bill in 2023, share how YOU can help Massachusetts finish the job.What You'll Learn in This Episode:The 8 individuals convicted in Boston who have never been exonerated: Margaret Jones, Elizabeth Kendall, Alice Lake, Hugh Parsons, Eunice Cole, Ann Hibbins, Elizabeth Morse, and Goody GloverWhy this matters today: Witch hunts didn't end in the 1600s—they're still happening around the worldThe history of Massachusetts exoneration efforts from 1703 to 2022How Connecticut proved it's possible with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2023Exactly what you can do to support H.1927, whether you live in Massachusetts or anywhere else in the worldKey Facts:200+ individuals were accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts between 1638 and 169338 people were convicted (30 in Salem, 8 in Boston)25 people died: 19 hanged in Salem, 5 hanged in Boston, and Giles Corey pressed to deathOnly Salem victims have been exonerated—the 8 Boston convictions remain unaddressedThe Boston Eight:Five Executed:Margaret Jones (1648) - The first person executed for witchcraft in MassachusettsElizabeth Kendall (1647-1651) - Falsely accused by a nurse covering her own negligenceAlice Lake (c. 1650) - Mother of four, judged for her pastAnn Hibbins (1656) - A widow, called "quarrelsome" for speaking her mindGoody Glover (1688) - Irish Catholic widow executed just 4 years before SalemThree Convicted But Not Executed:Hugh Parsons (1651) - Conviction overturned, released 1652Eunice Cole (likely 1656) - Convicted and imprisoned, though records are incompleteElizabeth Morse (1680) - Sentenced to death but eventually releasedCRITICAL DATE: November 25, 2025The Joint Committee on the Judiciary holds a hearing on H.1927 at 10:00 AMThis bill MUST get through committee to move forward. If it doesn't receive a favorable report, it gets sent to "study" where it becomes invisible and inactive.How YOU Can Help RIGHT NOW:1. Sign the Petition (From Anywhere in the World)change.org/witchtrials Goal: 3,000+ signaturesKeep it short: 2-6 sentences is enough! Include:Why this bill matters to youThat these people were innocentWhy Massachusetts should complete its exoneration workConnection to modern witch hunts (optional)2. Submit Written Testimony (From Anywhere in the World)Where to submit: Details at massachusettswitchtrials.org3. Contact Your Massachusetts Legislators (MA Residents)Email your state representative and senatorAsk them to support H.1927Ask them to co-sponsor the billTell them: "Massachusetts exonerated the Salem victims but left the Boston victims behind. Please honor all witch trial victims."4. Spread the WordShare this episode and use hashtags:#H1927#WitchTrialJustice#MassachusettsHistory#mawitchhuntjusticeproject#EndWitchHunts5. Get a Support PinPurchase the Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project pin on Zazzle (under $5) Link in show notes and at massachusettswitchtrials.orgSign the Petition to Exonerate the Boston 8The History of Witch Trial Exonerations in MassachusettsAbout the MA Witch Hunt Justice ProjectPurchase a MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Memorial Pin

Tune in for this informative virtual panel discussion bringing together three of the world's leading experts on witchcraft accusations and ritual violence. This free online event, co-hosted by End Witch Hunts and featuring speakers from INAWARA (International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks), addresses one of the most pressing yet under-recognized human rights crises of our time.Professor Charlotte Baker – Co-Director of INAWARA and Professor at Lancaster University (UK).  Professor Miranda Forsyth – Co-Director of INAWARA and Professor at Australian National University's School of Regulation and Global Governance. Dr. Keith Silika – Criminal investigator, lecturer, and human rights advocate bridging criminology, forensics, and cultural understanding. What You'll LearnThis panel discussion explores why international collaboration is essential to combating witchcraft accusations and ritual violence across the globe. Our distinguished panelists will discuss:Global research and coordination: How INAWARA unites experts, practitioners, advocates, and survivors from around the world to share knowledge and develop evidence-based interventionsThe new legislative report: Key findings from the June 2025 report, Legislative Approaches to Addressing Harmful Practices Related to Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual AttacksCross-border strategies: Why connecting researchers, NGOs, legal professionals, and community advocates across borders has significant value and creates more effective solutionsChallenges and progress: Real-world obstacles faced by communities worldwide and successful approaches to protection and preventionAdvocacy and policy reform: How research translates into legal protections and policy changes at local, national, and international levelsCommunity protection: Grassroots education and support systems that help vulnerable populations resist witch-hunt violenceINAWARA (International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks) is a global network that connects experts, practitioners, advocates, and survivors from every continent. By fostering international collaboration and supporting evidence-based interventions, INAWARA works to end witch hunts, witchcraft accusations, and ritual attacks wherever they occur.Witchcraft accusations continue to drive violence, discrimination, and human rights abuses across Africa, Asia, the Pacific, Latin America, and beyond. Victims are often women, children, the elderly, and those with disabilities. They face torture, exile, property seizure, and death. This panel discussion highlights the power of global cooperation in addressing this crisis and protecting the most vulnerable among us.🌐 End Witch Hunts: endwitchhunts.org 🌐 INAWARA: theinternationalnetwork.orgThe International Network (INAWARA) Global Report: Legislative approaches to addressing harmful practices related to witchcraft accusations and ritual attacksUnited Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8Study on the situation of the violations and abuses of human rights rooted in harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, as well as stigmatizationINARAWA Conference Clip:Implementing UN Resolution 47/8 - 2nd International ConferencePodcast Episode: Forensics, Witchcraft Accusations, and Ritual Murders with Dr. Keith SilikaPodcast Episode: Ending Sorcery Accusation-Related Violence with Miranda ForsythPodcast Episode: Amnesty International on Ghana’s Outcast Camps: A Conversation with the Coalition Against Witchcraft AccusationsBirubala Rabha: A life of chasing witch huntersSorcery National Action PlanFighting the Wildfire of SARVWitchcraft Beliefs Around the World: An Exploratory Analysiswww.stop-cwa.orgAdvocacy for Alleged Witches, NigeriaAdvocacy Against Witch Hunts, South Africa International Alliance to End Witch HuntsWhy Witch Hunts are not just a Dark Chapter from the Past African Witchfinder Documentary 2018

Why do witchcraft accusations persist in modern India, and how do gender and caste inequalities fuel this cycle of violence despite legal protections?Join Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack for a powerful conversation with  Bharvi Shahi, currently pursuing her LL.M. at Christ University, Bengaluru, and Razina Ahmed, Assistant Professor of Law at the School of Law, Presidency University, Bengaluru about from their research work in Northeast India's tribal communities and international human rights law.they explore the complex intersection of belief, tradition, and human rights violations in Northeast India's tribal communities related to witchcraft accusations.What You'll Learn:Understand the critical difference between cultural beliefs and harmful practices under international human rights law. Explore how accusations emerge within community structures when illness or misfortune strikes and medical care is inaccessible. Learn why India's state-level witchcraft laws face massive implementation challenges, and discover the reality of witch-hunt victim communities living in isolation. Our guests reveal how patriarchal structures weaponize supernatural accusations to control and exclude women.Razina Ahmed shares firsthand research challenges, including the startling moment an NGO declined to help her visit a village of survivors, revealing how deeply stigma affects even those working in advocacy. Bharvi Shahi examines how freedom of belief becomes weaponized against the most vulnerable: widows, elderly women, and those with disabilities. This episode reveals how community fear, social isolation, and supernatural accusations create complexities that legal protections alone cannot resolveKeywords: witch hunts India, tribal communities Northeast India, witchcraft accusations, gender-based violence, human rights violations India, superstition and law, vulnerable women, Assam tribal communities, Implementing Human rights, belief vs harmful practicesLinksMore Podcast Episodes Discussing Witchcraft Accusations in IndiaSign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Join One of Our ProjectsThe Thing About Salem PodcastBuy Books in Support of End Witch Hunts NonprofitBirubala Rabha: A life of chasing witch hunters

Playwright Laurie Flanigan-Hegge, two directors, and a puppet artist discuss staging "Prick," a play about Scottish witch trials, now opening in Chicago November 6-16. In August 2023, we spoke with playwright Laurie Flanigan-Hegge about Prick, her play about the Scottish witch trials. It had just premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.Two years later, the play has traveled to New Orleans, Wellington (New Zealand), and opens November 6-16, 2025 at the Den Theater in Chicago.We reunite with Laurie and puppet artist Madeline Helling, and meet two directors: Jeff Mills of Chicago's Proboscis Theater Company and Amy Chaffee from Tulane University.The conversation covers what it's like staging historical violence, why the single puppet design works so powerfully, and how a play about 17th-century Scotland keeps finding new relevance.About the PlayPrick examines the Scottish witch trials through three women: an Unknown Woman lost to history, Marioun Twedy of Peebles, and Isobel Gowdie. The title refers to "pricking"—searching accused women's bodies for the "devil's mark" with sharp instruments.The play moves between past and present, uses dark humor and Scottish folk music, and centers on a single haunting puppet created by Madeline Helling.What They DiscussThe rehearsal process: Both directors talk about the challenge of staging the pricking scenes, even with a puppet. Jeff's Chicago cast continues working through how to show violence respectfully. Amy's New Orleans students couldn't bring the instrument near the puppet—they performed the gesture from twelve feet away.The puppet's power: Madeline designed one puppet to represent all the accused women. It's specific enough to feel real, neutral enough that audiences project onto it. The puppet travels between productions and comes back to her for repairs.Contemporary connections: The play addresses ongoing witch hunts in countries where witchcraft remains a state crime. Amy teaches in Louisiana and discusses working in a politically charged environment. Jeff talks about theater as "rehumanization" in response to current dehumanization.The music: Both productions use songs by Heal and Harrow, a folk duo who created an album for the Witches of Scotland Campaign. Jeff adds Scottish guitar with electronics. Amy's students performed acapella arrangements.Cultural complications: Amy reflects on taking the play to Wellington, New Zealand—a colonial capital—at a conference focused on integrating Māori culture with acting and voice techniques. The play deals with Scotland as both colonized and colonizer, which created complex responses from audiences of different backgrounds."Remembrance Is Resistance"This Witches of Scotland Campaign motto runs through the conversation. The campaign seeks pardons and memorials for nearly 5,000 documented accused. They created a tartan anyone can wear to show support.At Tulane, one student built a monument inscribed with every name from the database and installed it in the lobby.Chicago ProductionNovember 6-16, 2025 The Den Theater, Milwaukee Avenue Tickets: thedentheatre.com (search "Prick")Two weekends only. Proboscis Theater Company's production features new jackdaw puppets and is reaching out to both theater audiences and Chicago's pagan communities.LinksGet Tickets to the Chicago Production at the Den Theatrewww.healandharrow.comNational Archives, Scotland, Early Modern Witch TrialsPrick: A Play of the Scottish Witch Trials Podcast EpisodeSign the Petition: MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Join One of Our ProjectsThe Thing About Salem Podcast