World Day Against Witch Hunts 2025 with Mary Bingham: Ancient Fears, Modern Victims
Join hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack as they sit down with fellow End Witch Hunts nonprofit board member Mary Bingham for a powerful discussion about modern-day witch hunts and spiritual ritual abuse in the United States. In this special episode commemorating World Day Against Witch Hunts (August 10th), we explore the devastating reality of supernatural fears that continue to harm vulnerable people in over 60 countries worldwide.What You'll LearnThe connection between historical witch trials and contemporary spiritual abuse casesHow modern witch hunts manifest in the United States and globallyThe devastating impact on society's most vulnerable membersPersonal insights from descendants of Salem witch trial victimsActionable ways to combat these harmful practices through education and awarenessFeatured GuestMary Bingham - End Witch Hunts nonprofit board member and advocate. Mary's compelling research draws crucial connections between historical persecution and contemporary cases of harm inflicted on those believed to be spiritually or diabolically possessed.Key Topics DiscussedSpiritual and Ritual Abuse: Understanding how supernatural fears manifest in harmful practices todayGlobal Crisis: The scope of witch hunt-related violence across 60+ countriesHistorical Connections: How past and present persecution share common rootsPersonal Impact: Why this work holds deep meaning for Salem descendantsPath Forward: Education and awareness as tools for changeImportant DatesWorld Day Against Witch Hunts: Sunday, August 10thAbout The Thing About Witch HuntsHosted by Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, this podcast examines the historical and contemporary reality of witch hunts, exploring their impact on vulnerable communities worldwide and advocating for education and awareness to end these harmful practices.About End Witch HuntsEnd Witch Hunts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about modern-day witch hunts and working to raise awareness about supernatural-based persecution and violence.About World Day Against Witch Hunts About Spiritual and Ritual Abuse Attend the Online Expert Panel Event August 10thSarahWildes1692 on Youtube Read Article: Salem to San Jose by Mary Bingham Read Blog Post: Understanding Ritualistic Crime Ghana: Branded for Life Report https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/research/2025/04/ghana-branded-for-life/Global Review: Addressing Harmful Practices Related to Witchcraft Accusations Content WarningThis episode discusses violence and harm against vulnerable individuals, including cases of spiritual and ritual abuse that may be disturbing to some listeners.If you found this episode meaningful, please share it to help raise awareness about World Day Against Witch Hunts and the ongoing work to end these harmful practices.
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Forensics, Witchcraft Accusations, and Ritual Murders with Dr. Keith Silika
In this gripping episode, we sit down with Dr. Keith Silika, a Zimbabwean-born criminal investigator whose extraordinary journey has positioned him at the crossroads of two worlds most of us never see intersect.Raised between his father's traditional healing practice and devout Catholic faith, Dr. Silika brings an unprecedented perspective to one of today's most misunderstood and dangerous phenomena, ritual attacks. From his early days in Zimbabwe's police force to his current work in England's law enforcement and academic circles, he's witnessed firsthand how supernatural beliefs continue to cause modern-day violence and persecution.This isn't your typical true crime discussion. It's a deep dive into the complex intersection of culture, belief, justice, and human rights that will inspire you to explore this critical issue further and engage in important conversations about protecting vulnerable communities worldwide.Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence and harm that some listeners may find disturbing.Friendship Bench WebsiteDr. Silika's Project: Forensic Investigation and Prevention of Witchcraft-Related Harmful Practices: A Study of Law Enforcement and Human Rights Perspectives in Southern Africa Dr. Silika's Article: Running for Community Healing: Why I Ran the Manchester 10K for the Friendship BenchThe International Network Against Witchcraft Attacks and Ritual AbuseThe Thing About Witch Hunts YouTubeThe Thing About Witch Hunts WebsiteSupport Us! Buy a book from our independent book shop
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History of The Witches' Sabbath
In the shadowy valleys of the Western Alps during the 1430s, a terrifying new narrative emerged that would reshape European understanding of witchcraft forever. What began as isolated tales of individual maleficium transformed into something far more sinister—organized gatherings where witches supposedly flew through the night to renounce Christ, feast on children, and pledge allegiance to Satan himself.Journey with us into the dark imagination of medieval Europe as we explore the birth of the witches' sabbath. These weren't just stories—they were detailed testimonies that religious authorities believed revealed an existential threat to Christendom itself. From the inlands of Switzerland to the remote mountaintops of France, discover how ancient fears and folklore about nighttime spirits coalesced into a conspiracy theory so powerful it would color centuries of witch hunts.But the sabbath's influence didn't end in medieval Europe. Follow its dark legacy across the Atlantic to the Salem witch trials, where Puritan New England became gripped by visions of devilish sacraments in village pastures. How did these European fantasies of organized devil worship take root in American soil, and what does their evolution tell us about the fears that drive societies to see enemies lurking in their midst?Buy the book: Origins of the Witches Sabbath by Michael D. BaileySalem Witch Trials Documentary Archive and Transcription ProjectThe Thing About Salem WebsiteThe Thing About Salem YouTubeThe Thing About Salem PatreonThe Thing About Witch Hunts YouTubeThe Thing About Witch Hunts Website
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Remembering Injustice: The Movement to Memorialize Scotland's Witch Trials with Margaret Malloch
What happens when a society finally confronts one of its darkest chapters? In Scotland, a growing movement is demanding recognition for the thousands of women killed during the country's brutal witch hunts—a campaign that reveals how historical injustices continue to shape us today. Dr. Margaret Malloch from the University of Stirling joins us to discuss her project "Memorializing Injustice," examining different campaigns of remembrance and exploring why remembering these forgotten victims matters now more than ever, and what Scotland's reckoning can teach us about confronting uncomfortable truths. A thought-provoking conversation about memory, how we understand justice, and the stories society chooses to tell.Formal Apology: Statement by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon opening the debate, International Women's Day 2022 in the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, on Tuesday 8 March 2022Formal Apology: The Church of Scotland Apologising for Historic WrongsRemembering the Accused Witches of Scotland CampaignListen to Witches of Scotland Episode Listen to Episode with Author Mary W. Craig on Witch Trials in ScotlandListen to Episode on the Paisley Witch HuntListen to Episode on the play Prick Help Us Build Our Patreon CommunityThe Thing About Witch Hunts WebsiteThe Thing About Salem WebsiteCheck out our new podcast: The Thing About Salem on YouTube!Sign up for our Newsletter
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What is a Witch? Our Semitricentennial Episode
For our landmark 150th episode, we explore one of humanity's most enduring questions: What is a witch? Far from being about broomsticks and cauldrons, the witch serves as a cultural mirror, reflecting society's deepest anxieties about power, gender, and the unknown.A witch is a designation that reveals more about the society doing the naming than about the accused. Throughout history, this label has been weaponized against the vulnerable, marginalized, and powerless as a means of social control.Yet in contemporary Western contexts, "witch" has become a self-claimed identity representing alternative spirituality, feminist empowerment, and connection to nature. This reclamation represents a deliberate rejection of patriarchal control and embrace of personal agency.We'll examine how the witch has served as both society's scapegoat and its rebel. What does it mean when an identity once used to destroy women becomes a source of empowerment? Join us as we explore this complex figure that continues to captivate and challenge us today.Make a Donation Read Report: Legislative Approaches to Harmful Practices Related to Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual Attacks, A Global ReviewThe International Network Against Witchcraft Accusations and Ritual AttacksAdvocacy for Alleged WitchesBuy the book: The Ruin of All WitchesListen to the episode: Malcolm Gaskill on the Ruin of All WitchesListen to the episode: Francis Young on Witchcraft and The Modern Roman Catholic ChurchListen to the episode: Legal Perceptions of Witch Hunting in India with Riya A Singh and Amit AnandWitchcraft Accusations in Listen to the episode: Nigeria with Dr. Leo IgweThe Thing About Salem WebsiteThe Thing About Salem YouTubeThe Thing About Salem PatreonThe Thing About Witch Hunts YouTubeThe Thing About Witch Hunts Website
The Thing About Witch Hunts is the podcast of historical witch trials and modern-day violent witchcraft persecution. From the Salem Witch Trials to the ramifications of today's harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, Witch Hunt covers it all. Tune in today to find out why Witch Hunt is an essential podcast for everyone interested in this intriguing subject.
#history #witchcraft #SalemWitchTrials #witchhunt
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