In Renaissance Italy, a young widow must hold herself, her family, and her lands together to survive. The answers may lie in alchemy. In this episode, we explore the life and experiments of Caterina Sforza, the Tigress of Forlì.   
 
Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet. 

To hear more about the history of alchemy, check out Enchanted's "Philosopher's Stone Trilogy": A Flower of the Fire, The Fisher King, and Beyond Expression Bright.  

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In the era of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, the real-life Cardinal Richelieu must solve a bizarre mystery: the demonic possessions of the Ursuline nuns of Loudun, who have accused the parish priest of sorcery. In this episode, we explore the trial of Urbain Grandier and the possessions at Loudun. What happens when desire becomes obsession? 

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet. 

For more on the Loudun affair, check out Michel de Certeau's The Possession at Loudun. 

To hear more on religious tensions in early modern France, check out Episode 23: The Edges of Civilization. 

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On 30 January 1540, the Mexican Inquisition's trial of Pedro Ruiz Calderón began in New Spain. Calderón was a priest accused of using magic to find hidden gold, but what if that's exactly what a Spanish colonist was supposed to do?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with the voice talent of Jack Krause and original music by Purple Planet.

For more on Fray Juan de Zumárraga and the trial of Pedro Ruiz Calderón, check out Richard E. Greenleaf's Zumárraga and the Mexican Inquisition: 1536–1543 and John F. Chuchiak IV's The Inquisition in New Spain, 1536–1820.

To hear more on heresy and sorcery trials in Latin America, check out Episode 29: The Good Angel.

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In 2013 Icelandic officials ceased construction on a planned roadway. The project was halted for environmental reasons but also because petitioners argued it would disturb the natural habitat of Iceland’s elves. In this episode, we examine three stories of the Yuletide habits of Iceland’s elves. Who's ready for an elf party?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet.

To hear more on magic in Scandinavian lore, check out Runes & Songs.

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Enchanted is taking a quick break this month before starting season four in December. In the meantime, we're remastering some past episodes, including this re-recorded and remastered version of Episode 6, "A Golden House." A rivalry, a scandal, a woman who sacrificed everything for the love of an emperor. Empress Chen of Wu risked it all when she resorted to witchcraft to defeat her rival. In her place, would we do the same?

Researched, written, and produced by Thomas Ignatius and Corinne Wieben, with original music by Purple Planet.

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The tumultuous politics of the late Roman Republic gave rise to a truly terrifying figure in Latin literature: the hideous and necromantic Roman witch. In this spooky season three finale, we meet Horace's Canidia and Lucan's Erictho.  Poison, blood, and prophecies from the undead: what else could you ask for in ancient Rome?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet.

To hear Enchanted's episode on the goddesses of magic in ancient Greece, check out Love is a Curse, and for more on love, infidelity, and magic in ancient Rome, see Obsequium.

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Dogs have lived alongside humans as guardians, helpers, and companions since before the dawn of recorded history, making dogs the perfect familiars for suspected witches. In this episode, we explore animals as witches’ familiars, hear the story of Elizabeth Sawyer and her dog-familiar, Tom, and meet one of the most famous dogs suspected of witchcraft: a white poodle named Boy. Can a dog be a witch's best friend?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet.

To hear Enchanted's episode on Eleanor Cobham and King Henry VI, check out The Fisher King, and for more on Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General, see Some Busy Men.

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Most musicians work for years to master their instruments, with no guarantee of success. To what lengths will humans go for the sake of genius? What wouldn’t we give to be talented? To be famous? To be the best in the world? In this episode, we meet four musicians rumored to have paid the ultimate price for their art.

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with the voice talent of Jack Krause. 

Music:
- Paganini's 24 Caprices for Solo Violin, Op. 1 - XX. Caprice in D Major. Allegretto, performed by Jonathan Vered is from MusOpen.
- Blues guitar riffs by juskiddink are from FreeSound:
https://freesound.org/people/juskiddink/sounds/77268
https://freesound.org/people/juskiddink/sounds/58493
- All other original music is by Purple Planet.

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Magic abounded in Viking Age Scandinavia, granted to humankind by Odin himself, but seidr was gifted to women alone. Despite this, some men risked condemnation, shame, and even the loss of their masculinity to gain this power. What kind of magic tempts a man to surrender his manhood, and what does he stand to gain?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben, with the voice talent of Jack Krause and original music by Purple Planet.

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From enslavement to Emancipation to independence, the Afro-Caribbean community sought protection, healing, and justice from Obeah men and women, but when Obeah became a tool for resistance, it was outlawed, breaking the chain of transmission from one generation to the next. Could Obeah aid decolonization in the twenty-first century, and can its traditions be recovered?

Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben, with original music by Purple Planet.

For more on the history of Obeah, see the Early Caribbean Digital Archive.

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