Witch Hunt

By: Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack
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  • Summary

  • Witch Hunt is the podcast of witch-hunts, witch trials, and harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft. From the Malleus Maleficarum and the Salem Witch Trials to the ramifications of modern-day witch-hunts, Witch Hunt covers it all. Tune in today to find out why Witch Hunt is an essential podcast for students, researchers, academics, descendants of witch trial victims, advocates, and everyone else interested in this intriguing subject. (Formerly Thou Shalt Not Suffer: The Witch Trial Podcast) #history #truecrime #witchcraft #SalemWitchTrials #witchhunt
    Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack
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True Crime
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Episodes
  • Coming February 1, 2025: Remembering the Innocent Victims of Connecticut's Witch Trials

    Coming February 1, 2025: Remembering the Innocent Victims of Connecticut's Witch Trials
    Jan 30 2025

    In this special bonus episode of Witch Hunt podcast, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack announce a groundbreaking commemoration of Connecticut's witch trial history. The event, "Remembering the Innocent Victims of Connecticut's Witch Trials," marks the first official recognition following the 2023 legislative resolution that absolved those accused of witchcraft in colonial Connecticut.

    The hosts paint a compelling picture of the upcoming event, scheduled for February 1st, 2025, at Connecticut's Old State House in Hartford. What makes this gathering particularly significant is its comprehensive approach to examining this dark chapter of colonial history. The event brings together an impressive array of voices: from the legislators who championed the 2023 exoneration resolution - Representative Jane Garibay and Senator Saud Anwar - to distinguished historians Dr. Katherine Hermes and Dr. Richard S. Ross III.

    The program weaves together academic insight with emotional resonance through several key elements: a dramatic reading titled "The Last Night" imagining the final hours of Rebecca Greensmith and Mary Barnes, a formal remembrance ceremony led by the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches, and weather permitting, a visit to the Ancient Burying Ground where memorial bricks honor some of the accused.

    Throughout the episode, Josh and Sarah provide crucial historical context: Connecticut's witch trials, spanning from 1647 to 1742, resulted in at least 51 accusations and 11 executions - more than Massachusetts had before Salem. They emphasize that Alice Young of Windsor's execution in 1647 marked the first known colonial execution for witchcraft, setting a tragic precedent.

    What's particularly moving about this episode is how it connects historical injustice to contemporary advocacy. The hosts, through their nonprofit End Witch Hunts, frame this commemoration not just as a historical memorial but as part of ongoing efforts to address witch hunt violence globally. They detail the distinction between exoneration and pardon, emphasizing how the 2023 resolution specifically "absolved" the accused, affirming their complete innocence.

    The episode concludes with a powerful recitation of the names of all known accused, spanning nearly a century of accusations - a sobering reminder of the human cost of these trials and the importance of remembering their stories.

    This special announcement episode effectively bridges historical scholarship with contemporary relevance, inviting listeners to participate in this significant moment of public history and collective remembrance.


    Sign the Petition to Support Maryland Witch Trials Exoneration

    Sign the Petition to Support Boston Witch Trials Exoneration

    Free Ticket for February 1st Remembering the Innocent Victims of the Connecticut Witch Trials

    Learn about Remembering the Innocent Victims of the Connecticut Witch Trials

    Visit Witch Hunt on the web

    Make a Donation to End Witch Hunts Nonprofit

    Support our GoFundMe for Magic & Witchcraft Conference 2025

    Buy Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt

    Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County

    Learn about witch hunts happening now

    Learn about the Massachusetts Witch Trials

    Learn about the Connecticut Witch Trials
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    25 mins
  • Coercive Control with Kacey Baker of The Cult Vault Podcast

    Coercive Control with Kacey Baker of The Cult Vault Podcast
    Jan 29 2025
    In this illuminating conversation, Kacey Baker, host of The Cult Vault podcast, shares her journey from lockdown podcaster to advocate and expert in coercive control. What began as a way to stay mentally stimulated during COVID isolation while caring for her newborn has evolved into nearly 400 episodes featuring survivor stories and in-depth discussions about cults and coercive control. Baker recently completed her master's degree in the psychology of coercive control, bringing academic rigor to her growing expertise in the field. Throughout the episode, Baker discusses how her understanding of cult dynamics and coercive control has transformed through years of interviewing survivors. She candidly acknowledges her own past misconceptions about people who join cults or remain in abusive relationships, explaining how direct conversations with survivors helped reshape her perspective. A key insight from her work is recognizing how coercive control manifests across various contexts - from cults to domestic relationships, military training, workplace abuse, and human trafficking. Baker provides valuable information about current legislation around coercive control, particularly focusing on the UK's Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act (2015). While this law criminalizes coercive control in domestic settings, she explains its limitations in addressing group contexts like cults. She discusses ongoing efforts through organizations like The Family Survival Trust and the National Working Group of Spiritual and Ritual Abuse to expand this legislation's scope. The conversation delves into Baker's thoughtful approach to interviewing survivors, emphasizing ethical storytelling and the importance of avoiding re-traumatization. She explains how most guests reach out to her independently, and she offers various options to protect their identities, including the use of pseudonyms and careful omission of identifying details. Baker also shares insights from her recent participation in a conference about spiritual and ritual abuse, describing the powerful experience of being among professionals who deeply understand coercive control's cross-contextual nature. She discusses her role at CrimeCon events, where she often invites survivors to speak alongside her, ensuring their voices remain central to discussions about cult experiences. The episode concludes with Baker's reflections on how personal interest can evolve into meaningful advocacy work. Her journey demonstrates how taking time to understand complex issues with compassion and curiosity can lead to significant positive change, both personally and societally. This episode contains discussions of psychological abuse, coercive control, and related topics that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. The Cult Vault podcast: https://www.cultvaultpodcast.com/ Sign the Petition to Support Maryland Witch Trials Exoneration: www.change.org/MDwitchtrials Sign the Petition to Support Boston Witch Trials Exoneration: https://change/org/witchtrials Free Ticket for February 1st Remembering the Innocent Victims of the Connecticut Witch Trials: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hartford-remembering-the-innocent-victims-of-the-connecticut-witch-trials-tickets-1126378742139?aff=oddtdtcreator Learn about Remembering the Innocent Victims of the Connecticut Witch Trials: https://connecticutwitchtrials.org/remembering-the-innocent-victims-of-the-connecticut-witch-trials/ Visit Witch Hunt on the web: https://witchhuntshow.com Make a Donation to End Witch Hunts Nonprofit: https://endwitchhunts.org/donate/ Support our GoFundMe for Magic & Witchcraft Conference 2025: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-witch-hunt-attend-magic-witchcraft-conference-2025 Buy Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt: https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9781107689619 Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County: https://salem.lib.virginia.edu/Essex/index.html
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    52 mins
  • Justice for Witches: Pardoning Britain's Accused with Charlotte Meredith

    Justice for Witches: Pardoning Britain's Accused with Charlotte Meredith
    Jan 22 2025

    Between 1542 and 1735, British courts convicted over 3,000 people under witchcraft legislation. Now, author Charlotte Meredith is leading a campaign to secure their pardons. We first met Charlotte at this fall's Witchcraft and Human Rights Conference in Lancaster, where advocates gathered to address both historical and modern witch hunts. Her work is so compelling that we knew we needed to bring this conversation to our listeners. Her "Justice for Witches" campaign gathered over 13,000 signatures, pushing for official recognition of one of Britain's most profound miscarriages of justice. Charlotte details the stark regional differences in witch persecution, explaining why Scotland's execution count was five times that of England, and illuminates how these historical injustices echo in modern witch hunts around the world. Through her careful research and advocacy, Charlotte makes a compelling case for why these historical pardons matter in contemporary society, revealing how patterns of persecution persist from past to present. Join us for a conversation that bridges centuries and shows how historical recognition can help address ongoing human rights violations.


    Join the Justice for Witches Campaign

    Sign the Petition to Support Maryland Witch Trials Exoneration

    Sign the Petition to Support Boston Witch Trials Exoneration

    Free Ticket for February 1st Remembering the Innocent Victims of the CT Witch Trials

    Make a Donation to End Witch Hunts Nonprofit


    Support our GoFundMe for Magic & Witchcraft Conference 2025

    Show More Show Less
    44 mins

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