In the mid 1980s a new conspiracy theory proliferates across America - that cabals of Satanists are secretly preying on children and polluting the culture. This ‘Satanic panic’ is a madness with bizarre and dreadful consequences – as an unsuspecting young woman in New Jersey is about to discover…Written and presented by Jon Ronson
Produced by Sarah Shebbeare
Original music by Phil Channell

In the mid 1980s a new conspiracy theory proliferates across America - that cabals of Satanists are secretly preying on children and polluting the culture. This ‘Satanic panic’ is a madness with bizarre and dreadful consequences – as an unsuspecting young woman in New Jersey is about to discover… Written and presented by Jon Ronson Produced by Sarah Shebbeare Original music by Phil Channell

S1. Ep 4: Believe the Children

If you've ever yelled at someone on social media about, say, cancel culture or mask-wearing, then you are a soldier in the culture wars - those everyday battles for dominance between conflicting values. The acclaimed writer and podcaster Jon Ronson has seen friends swallowed up in them to the extent that it's ruined their lives. Jon was curious to learn how things fell apart, and so he went back into the history of the culture wars to find some of the origin stories: the pebbles thrown in the pond, creating the ripples that led us to where we are today. He had no idea what he'd find, but he's uncovered some extraordinary people and the strangest, yet most consequential tales.

Society & Culture

If you've ever yelled at someone on social media about, say, cancel culture or mask-wearing, then you are a soldier in the culture wars - those everyday battles for dominance between conflicting values. The acclaimed writer and podcaster Jon Ronson has seen friends swallowed up in them to the extent that it's ruined their lives. Jon was curious to learn how things fell apart, and so he went back into the history of the culture wars to find some of the origin stories: the pebbles thrown in the pond, creating the ripples that led us to where we are today. He had no idea what he'd find, but he's uncovered some extraordinary people and the strangest, yet most consequential tales.

Share S1. Ep 4: Believe the Children

Sign up to save your podcasts

S1. Ep 4: Believe the Children

S1. Ep 4: Believe the Children

More shows like Things Fell Apart

In Our Time

From Our Own Correspondent

Global News Podcast

Business Daily

More or Less: Behind the Stats

World Business Report

Desert Island Discs

Newshour

The Life Scientific

No Such Thing As A Fish

THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST

Newscast

The Blindboy Podcast

Evil Genius with Russell Kane

Off Menu with Ed Gamble and James Acaster

You're Dead to Me

Cautionary Tales with Tim Harford

The Slow Newscast

Grounded with Louis Theroux

Sport's Strangest Crimes

Uncanny

The Coming Storm

Dua Lipa: At Your Service

The Rest Is Politics

Lady Killers with Lucy Worsley

The News Agents

Powerplay

Believe in Magic

The Global Story

The Rest Is Entertainment

The Louis Theroux Podcast

Miss Me?

The History Podcast