The Thing About Witch Hunts

Latest Episodes:

Witch Hunt 15: Witch-Hunting and the Law in India Jun 07, 2024

Show notes

In this abridged version of "Legal Perceptions of Witch-hunting in India with Riya A Singh and Amit Anand," we learn about the existing laws against witch-hunting in some Indian states and the need for a national law to curb these harmful practices.

For the full episode, please visit https://open.spotify.com/episode/43tSyuiOoXNtZkArtQryLe

Legal Perceptions of Witch-hunting in India with Riya A Singh and Amit Anand Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, hosts Josh and Sarah explore the complexities of witchcraft legislation relating to witch branding and witch hunting in India. They are joined by Riya A. Singh, a third year law student specializing in human rights, and Dr. Amit Anand, an Assistant Professor of Law at Reva University. They discuss the differences in legal frameworks and implementation across Indian states, underscoring the urgent need for central legislation. The discussion highlights how the shortcomings of current laws are impacting the lives of vulnerable community members. They address the importance of tailoring education, systemic changes, and community programs to fit the unique needs of each region. Join us for an insightful conversation on the urgent need for legal reforms and societal action to combat witch-hunting in India.

Anti-Superstition Laws in India

THE PREVENTION AND PROHIBITION OF WITCH-BRANDING AND WITCH-HUNTING AND OTHER HARMFUL PRACTICES BILL, 2022

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Sign the Petition to recognize those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts

ActionAid Report: “Witch-Hunting in Odisha”

ActionAid Report: “Witch Branding in India”

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End Witch Hunts

The Connecticut Witch Trials Trilogy with Beth Caruso May 29, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, we welcome back Beth M. Caruso, author of the compelling novel One of Windsor and its sequel The Salty Rose, to discuss her latest book, Between Good and Evil: Curse of the Windsor Witch's Daughter, the final entry in her Connecticut Witch Trials trilogy. Beth takes us through the chilling history of the Connecticut Witch Trials, focusing on Alice Young Jr., the daughter of the first person executed for witchcraft in Connecticut.

Beth shares insights into Alice Jr.'s experiences, her family's history, and the extensive research behind the book, including work with historians Malcolm Gaskill and Kathy Hermes. We also explore themes of trauma, healing, and the lasting impact of the witch trials, along with efforts to honor the victims and educate the public. Join us for a compelling mix of historical insights and personal stories with Beth M. Caruso.

Author Beth Caruso's Website

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ConnecticutWitchTrials.org

CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial

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Sign the Petition to recognize those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts

The Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Marks Anniversary of Exoneration May 22, 2024

Show notes

Join us for a special episode marking the first anniversary of the groundbreaking legislation that cleared the names of Connecticut’s witch trial victims. On May 25, 2023, House Joint Resolution 34 was adopted, officially absolving the innocent victims of the colonial witch trials and offering a formal state apology to their descendants. In this episode, hear from the five advocates who founded the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project in 2022 as they reflect on their journey to legislative success, share their personal experiences, and discuss the profound impact of the 2023 resolution. We'll delve into their efforts to raise awareness, the plans for a state memorial, and how this historical victory resonates with the ongoing modern witch hunt crisis worldwide. Don't miss this insightful conversation about justice, remembrance, and the continued fight against wrongful persecution.

Come Visit Us On Youtube

ConnecticutWitchTrials.org

CT W.I.T.C.H. Memorial

State Representative Jane Garibay

Mary-Louise Bingham’s YouTube video at Proctor's Ledge about Connecticut victims

Diana DiZoglio Senate Floor Speech Exoneration of Elizabeth Johnson, Jr. 05/26/22

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Sign the Petition to recognize those accused of witchcraft in MassachusettsList of those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts

Youtube - Connecticut Witch Trials with Dr. Scott Culpepper

Windsor Historical Society

New London Connecticut Historical Society

Historical Sites with witch trial ties First Church in Windsor

Connecticut's Old State House

Barnard Park also known as South Green

Hartford Ancient Burial Ground

Witch Hunt:Connecticut Witch Trials episodes

Connecticut Witch Trials with Beth Caruso and Tony Griego of CT WITCH Memorial

Should Connecticut Witch Trial Victims be Exonerated?

Connecticut Witch-Hunts and John Winthrop, Jr. with Dr. Scott Culpepper

Descendants of Connecticut Witch Trial Victims

Introducing The Last Night, a Connecticut Witch Trials Play

Between God and Satan with Beth Caruso and Katherine Hermes

Representative Jane Garibay on Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Legislation

Goody Bassett, Accused Witch of Stratford, Connecticut

Andy Verzosa on Museums, Mary Barnes, and Farmington, Connecticut

Connecticut Witch Trials 101, Part 1

Connecticut Witch Trials 101, Part 2: Witchcraft Belief, the Founding of Connecticut, and Alice Young

Connecticut Witch Trial Victim Exoneration Testimony with William and Jennifer Schloat

Connecticut Witch Trials 101 Part 3: 1648-1661

Connecticut Witch Trials 101 Part 4: The Hartford Witch-Hunt of 1662-1665

Before Salem with Richard S. Ross III

Connecticut Witch Trials 101 Part 5: 1666 to 1691

Connecticut Witch Trials 101 Part 6: 1692 and Beyond

Mary Beth Norton on Salem Witch Trials Research May 15, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of "Witch Hunt," we are privileged to share the expert insights of Mary Beth Norton, a distinguished historian specializing in early American history. Mary Beth shares her profound research on the impact of frontier warfare on the dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials, offering a unique perspective that centers on the accusers. Mary Beth gives insights from her experiences teaching this intriguing topic of history at Cornell University, alongside the compelling witch trial research her students undertook. Join us as we discuss key takeaways from her groundbreaking book, In the Devil's Snare, and hear firsthand about the innovative research conducted by her students. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most mysterious chapters of American history.

Buy: In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 by Mary Beth Norton

Buy: Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt by Bernard Rosenthal, editor

The Cornell University Witchcraft Collection

commonplace.online

Salem Witchcraft In The Classroom

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Petition to recognize those accused of witchcraft in MassachusettsList of those accused of witchcraft in Massachusetts

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Athenian Mercury

The Once and Future Witch Hunt with Alice Markham-Cantor May 08, 2024

Show notes

We present a thought-provoking episode that considers the enduring legacy of witch hunts, tracing their historical roots through the Salem Witch Trials to the present day with Martha Carrier descendant and author Alice Markham-Cantor. Her personal journey and research, lead our reflection on the economic, political, and personal motivations driving witch hunts. Witch hunt history reveals how accusations of witchcraft, intertwined with social disputes and global dynamics, persist across time, necessitating a call for historical truth, awareness of ongoing injustices, and activism against this continuing phenomenon. Alice’s new book, The Once and Future Witch Hunt: A Descendant’s Reckoning from Salem to the Present, releases May 8, 2024, and stay tuned to awitchstory.com for updates on the new documentary, A Witch Story, featuring Alice.

Buy the book "The Once and Future Witch: A Descendants Reckoning from Salem to the Present" By Alice Markham Cantor

https://www.alicemarkhamcantor.com/

https://awitchstory.com/

United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 47/8. Elimination of harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks

Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: Study 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 stigmatization

'Witch Hunt' Podcast Episode: Ending Sorcery Accusation Related Violence in Papua New Guinea with Miranda Forsyth

'The Briefing' Podcast Episode: Why Witch Hunts are Still Happening in 2024 with Miranda Forsyth

End Witch Hunts

Why Witch Hunts are not just a Dark Chapter from the Past

The International Network against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices

Grassroots organizations working with The International Network

The Intersection of Spiritual Belief and Gender Roles in Hinduism with Akanksha Madaan and Amit Anand May 04, 2024

Show notes

This comprehensive discussion brings together experts Dr. Akanksha Madaan and Dr. Amit Anand, focusing on witch hunts, the intersection of spirituality and gender roles in societies, particularly within Hinduism, and comparisons with African contexts. Dr. Madaan, an Assistant Professor of Law with extensive study in Victimology, and Dr. Anand, also an Assistant Professor who has researched violence against women in India, including aspects of witchcraft and honor-based abuse, discuss the historical and sociocultural facets of witch-hunting. They examine how witch hunts have been influenced by various factors, including patriarchal structures, lack of education, and misconceptions about religious and spiritual practices. The conversation extends beyond India, touching on similar practices in Africa and drawing parallels to historical European witch trials, highlighting the universal scapegoating of women in such accusations. The discussion underscores the complexity of tackling witch hunts, calling for multidimensional approaches involving law, education, and community engagement to address this grave human rights issue.

Film: Testimony of Ana

End Witch Hunts

Why Witch Hunts are not just a Dark Chapter from the Past

The International Network against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices

Grassroots organizations working with The International Network

International Alliance to End Witch Hunts

Harmful Traditional Practices with Naveen Suresh and Samantha Spence Apr 24, 2024

Show notes

This episode features a comprehensive discussion on superstitions and their impact on child rights in India, specifically focusing on the harmful ritual of Pillai Thookkam. The guests, Naveen Suresh, a PhD researcher on anti-superstition law in India, and Dr. Samantha Spence, an expert in human rights law, dive into the legal, cultural, and psychological aspects of superstitions and their enforcement. Naveen shares unsettling details about Pillai Thookkam, a ritual involving putting babies at risk without safety measures, to highlight the severe neglect of child rights under the guise of tradition. Both guests discuss the complexities of applying existing laws against such practices, emphasizing the importance of scientific temper, education, and mental health awareness. The episode concludes with insights into how media and education can play pivotal roles in combating superstitions and fostering a rational and empathetic societal outlook towards child welfare.

Street Play on Witch Hunting by I-CARD

Film: Testimony of Ana

End Witch Hunts

AVARNAN (The Colorless People) | SHORT FILM | NAVEEN SURESH

Why Witch Hunts are not just a Dark Chapter from the Past

The International Network against Accusations of Witchcraft and Associated Harmful Practices

Grassroots organizations working with The International Network

International Alliance to End Witch Hunts

Cotton Mather and the Demoniac with Brendan Walsh Apr 17, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, we sit down with Brendan Walsh, an expert in Early Modern Intellectual History and Religion to examine a chilling account of a 17th century demonic child possession in Connecticut, as chronicled in Cotton Mather’s "Memorable Providences Relating To Witchcrafts And Possessions." Brendan takes us through the golden age of demonic possession, spotlighting significant figures such as the English exorcist John Darrell and notorious New England minister Cotton Mather.

As we consider the account of the "Boy of Tocutt," Brendan elucidates how such reports reflect the fundamental Puritan perceptions of the diabolical or malevolent and their assault on the spiritually weak. Join us for a fascinating journey into the past, exploring how immemorial beliefs in witchcraft, the devil’s pact, demonic obsession and possession continue to shape our understanding of evil in our society and ourselves.

"The Boy of Tocutt" and the Demonic Covenant in Seventeenth-Century New England Demonology

Memorable Providences Relating to Witchcrafts and Possessions

Salem Witch-Hunt Daily Report

Save Ingersoll's Tavern Facebook Group

Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project Facebook Group

Sign the MA Witch Hunt Justice Project Petition

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End Witch Hunts

The Ultimate Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials Apr 10, 2024

Show notes

Witch Hunt presents “The Ultimate Introduction to the Salem Witch Trials,” the first episode of the Salem Witch-Hunt 101 series. This episode provides a comprehensive overview of the Salem Witch Trials, emphasizing the event's extensive reach, the variety of people involved, and its unique characteristics compared to other witch hunts in history. We discuss the origins and progression of the witch hunt, debunking myths and shedding light on the social, legal, and political factors feeding the crisis. Also covered are some of the key accusers, victims, opposition, and lasting legacy of the trials, with an emphasis on the importance of remembrance and learning from this dark chapter in history.

Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, descendants of people hanged for witchcraft in the Salem Witch-Hunt, welcome you to explore the witch-hunt in great detail in this episode and the rest of the series. Look for much more in-depth Salem coverage over the coming months and years.

Salem Witch-Hunt 101 Bibliography

A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience by Emerson W. Baker

The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege by Marilynne K. Roach

Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt by Bernard Rosenthal, editor

The Ruin of All Witches: Life and Death in the New World by Malcolm Gaskill

Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials by Marion Gibson

The Once & Future Witch Hunt: A Descendant's Reckoning from Salem to the Present by Alice Markham-Cantor

Marion Gibson on Witchcraft A History in 13 Trials

Owen Davies on Grimoires, Magic, and Witch Hunts

Finding Your Salem Witch Trial Ancestors with David Allen Lambert

Malcolm Gaskill on The Ruin of All Witches