Unobscured

Each season of Unobscured digs deep into one of history's darkest and most misunderstood moments, and sheds light on the true story beneath the myth.  Explore the Salem witch trials (S1), the Spiritualist Movement (S2), Jack the Ripper (S3), and Grigori Rasputin (S4) through the narrative storytelling of Aaron Mahnke, along with prominent historian interviews.

Some Unobscured News

The spirit of UNOBSCURED has evolved and transformed into a brand new show called GRIM & MILD PRESENTS. We'll still be doing season-long deep-dives into major topics, but releasing episodes bi-weekly throughout the year, rather than all lumped into October and November. Learn more here. Subscribe to Grim & Mild Presents here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

05-05
02:13

Grim & Mild Presents: Season 2 Trailer

This summer, Grim & Mild Presents continues its journey into the strange, the unusual, and the fascinating. For our newest season, we’ll be taking to the high seas to explore one of history’s most notorious types of criminal: pirates. From naval battles and buried treasure, to deadly sword fights and stolen rum. Prepare to raise anchor! Grim & Mild Presents: Pirates sets sail on Friday, July 8th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

07-08
02:52

S1 – Trailer

History is full of stories we think we know. They are old and dark, but time has robbed us of perspective and clarity. They've become obscured and misunderstood. Which is why this series exists: to dig deep and shed light on some of history’s darkest moments. To help us better understand where we’ve come from. To make it Unobscured. Each season pairs narrative storytelling from Aaron Mahnke, the creator the hit podcast Lore, with prominent historian interviews.Season One: The Salem Witch Trials Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

09-26
02:18

S1 – 1: The Arrival

The stage is set, the characters are introduced, and the spell is cast. Welcome to Salem Village, home to a diverse and complicated gathering of families and personalities. It is a pile of dry kindling, and the match is about to be struck. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-03
41:09

S1 – 2: The Outsiders

Even though Salem had been without an official charter from England for almost a decade, there was no question that witchcraft was still a crime. The only question left was how to handle them, and the answer would involve pitting a group of outsiders against a few powerful insiders.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-10
44:06

S1 – 3: By the Book

As the first suspects are rounded up and questioned by the biased and partisan officials, their confessions unleash more trouble than relief. And as the number of witches multiplies, so too does the number of accusers. In an increasingly uncertain time, the Village leans on its faith. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-17
48:32

S1 – 4: The Refugees

While the events of the Salem witch trials began within the borders of the Salem village community, many of the forces that drove it forward were external. As we're about to see, Salem was full of more than stories about witchcraft—and those external threats were about to come home. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-24
33:35

S1 – 5: A Higher Power

Some people saw the growing witch panic in Salem as a threat to their lives, and they tried to run and hide. Others saw an opportunity for profit and advancement. Through it all, though, the fire would continue to burn, and unlikely individuals would be caught up in the blaze. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-31
41:45

S1 – 6: Consequences

Until now, the daily flood of examinations had been a temporary fix while everyone waited for the new government to set up an official trial. For many, that trial would represent hope and conclusion. For some, however, it would extract a heavy, deadly price. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-07
40:57

S1 – 7: She Is One Of Us

It's easy for a community to turn on the outsiders among them. The Salem witch trials had become a textbook example of this over the first few months. But in July of 1692, all of that changed. As the Court of Oyer and Terminer rolled full speed ahead, it seems anyone could be a witch. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-14
38:25

S1 – 8: King and Queen

As the trials continued to roll forward in Salem, crushing more and more lives beneath its wheels, the panic began to spread outside its borders. In the community of Andover, those old fears found a new home—and the results would defy all expectations. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-21
51:07

S1 – 9: Fight or Flight

The witchcraft panic had been gathering victims for months by the time George Burroughs was hanged, and many of them were still in jail. With nothing but torture and certain death awaiting them at the end of their imprisonment, many of the accused in Salem began to plot a more hopeful conclusion to their story. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11-28
47:05

S1 – 10: Pen and Paper

Between the examinations and the hangings, it was easy to see the witch trials as a battle fought inside the courtroom. But outside, word was spreading about the injustice of it all, and so the fight was taken to a brand new arena—one that would do far more to change minds than any hanging or spectral testimony. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12-05
44:15

S1 – 11: Floundering

With the Court of Oyer and Terminer officially disbanded, the fog of uncertainly rolled into Salem. What would happen to those still in jail? When would a new trial session begin? And most importantly, who would grab the wheel of power and steer Salem to victory over darkness? Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12-12
50:32

S1 – 12: Making Amends

How does a community recover from a tragedy that claims over two dozen lives? How do they even begin to pick up the pieces and make things right again? And when it's all said and done, what can the rest of the world learn from the 300-year old mistakes of colonial New England village? The answers aren't as easy as they might appear. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

12-19
54:53

S1 – INTERVIEW 1: Emerson Baker

Our interview with Emerson Baker, interim dean and history professor at Salem State University and author of A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-02
01:24:37

S1 – INTERVIEW 2: Mary Beth Norton

Our interview with Mary Beth Norton, professor of American history at Cornell University and author of In the Devil’s Snare. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-09
01:21:53

S1 – INTERVIEW 3: Richard Trask

Our interview with Richard B. Trask who has served as Archivist for the Town of Danvers, Massachusetts (old Salem Village) since 1972. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-16
01:35:34

S1 – INTERVIEW 4: Marilynne K. Roach

Our interview with Marilynne K. Roach, author of "Six Women of Salem" and "The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-by-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege." Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-24
01:33:49

S1 – INTERVIEW 5: Jane Kamensky

Our interview with Jane Kamensky, professor of American history at Harvard University and author of Governing the Tongue: The Politics of Speech in Early New England.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

01-30
53:31

Dan Epple

I think I have all your podcasts loaded on my devices. All podcasts are very well put together and interesting and voiced clearly and brought to us in an attractive way. Nothing boring with all your podcasts. I can’t say enough of how much I enjoy them.👍🏽🍺

04-15 Reply

Len Conyers

I know many of you, even possibly our host himself, are sitting in a loft/flat somewhere, in a beautiful old neighborhood that used to contain a lot of people that it no longer does, sipping a Starbucks from one of the many that magically popped up over the last 20 years. I hope you recognize yourselves in this episode.

02-15 Reply

Saba Qamar

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02-09 Reply

Piper Brockley

I loved loved loved Season 1 and 2. I'm listening to Season 3 now and will undoubtedly devour Season 4 soon after. I absolutely adore Aaron as a narrator. He's very thorough, detailed, accurate, and objective, but something that sets him apart is that he's not just recounting a timeline, providing a lecture totally detached from its events - you can *hear* the empathy in his voice. He implores you to connect to people long dead and times long passed. He humanizes the people involved and contextualizes all the environmental factors existing in that period of time. It's refreshing and very well done and something I find truly unique to this genre of podcast.

08-01 Reply

Lori C.

sure wish this guest had a glass of water and used it during the interview. sticky tongue sounds are distracting! also, as an expert, sure wish she'd spoke more like an expert. can't say if episode is good as I had to move on.

02-10 Reply

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