Happy February! Love is in the air, so today we learn about St. Valentine and how coincidence, Geoffrey Chaucer, and some birds shaped the medieval and modern traditions of Valentine’s Day. Then, we remain in England to discuss the Witches of Belvoir, a mother and her two daughters accused of performing witchcraft on their employers’ children. Also, we learn that King James was actually a 90’s Disney villain. A blessed Imbolc and happy St. Brigid’s Day to all who celebrate!

English Broadside Ballad Archive recording of the ballad “Damnable Practises / Of three Lincolne-shire Witches…”: https://ebba.english.ucsb.edu/ballad/20058/recording

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Today we make our first trip to Iceland! We take a look at a story from the Eyrbyggja saga that features witchcraft, good old-fashioned jealousy, and some crazy Boy Mom energy. Then, we discuss the patron saint of Iceland, Thorlak Thorhallsson, and the holiday he inspired. It's a good time and you should probably listen, like, now.

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Welcome back to Italy for another episode of Saints & Witches! Today we finally tackle the legendary St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan Order and one of the patron saints of Italy. Then, we discuss the findings of the 16th- and 17th-century Roman Inquisition, including the astral-projecting benandanti and the Fisherwife of Palermo.

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Happy November! Today we return to Sweden and the Katarina witch trials, part of the 17th-century Great Noise (for more on these trials, check out Episode 28). Then, we discuss St. Ansgar (Anskar? Anschar? Oscar Mayer Weiner?), the first missionary to Sweden.

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Welcome to Part II of the Saga of the Nerds Who Fuck and Kill Each Other: AKA, the Frankish Merovingian Dynasty. If you loved Episode 21 (XOXO, Caesar), you're in the right place! If you haven't listened, never fear: we'll give a quick recap and jump right into two stories of seduction, murder, and betrayal in 6th century Gaul. First, we focus on St. Radegund, daughter-in-law of St. Clotilde and one of King Clothar's many wives. Then, we hop forward a few years and explore the legendary, witchcraft-adjacent feud of Fredegunda and Brunhilda, the two ladies who inspired today's title.

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Family tree of the Merovingian dynasty: https://www.familyecho.com/?p=START&c=txeij47s6l&f=552641287256699663

Ireland, you are always a joy! Today we have two 19th-century Irish tales of mayhem and misconduct. First, the stories of Moll Anthony and Bridget “Biddy” Early, two Irish cunning women who (surprise, surprise) perplexed and enraged the Church. Then, we take a hard left turn into Downerville with a discussion of the Great Famine and how it changed Catholicism in Ireland forever.

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Scotland, we’ve been asking for years now if you’re okay, and we still haven’t received confirmation. Today’s episode is, in fact, further proof that you’re NOT okay. Today, we discuss St. Margaret of Scotland / Wessex, the Norman-Conquest-era queen who married a Scottish warlord and *attempted* to teach him how to read. Then, we finally hop forward in time for the North Berwick Trials II: Electric Boogaloo. A special splinter, a psychotic earl, and several Macbeth references await.

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Today we revisit Germany/Holy Roman Empire in the midst of the Thirty Years’ War. First, we learn about the Würzburg witch trials, one of Europe’s largest mass executions, and the Jesuit Friedrich Spee who spoke out against it. Then, we discuss the life of Athanasius Kircher, the Jesuit priest and inventor who wrote about everything, but got it all wrong.

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Sarah went on a pilgrimage and now she’s making it everyone’s problem! Today, in celebration of the U.S. relics tour of St. Bernadette, we discuss the saint and the famous Marian apparitions at Lourdes. Then, we explore the crazy life and lasting legacy of author, occultist, and almost-priest Eliphas Levi.

**As we announce at the end of this episode, Saints & Witches is moving to a monthly schedule. New episodes will be released on the first Thursday of every month. We love this podcast and would love to stick to our bi-monthly schedule, but right now it’s unsustainable for us. We’re so grateful to all of you for sticking around!

Itinerary of St. Bernadette's relics tour: https://www.stbernadetteusa.org/ip.php?pg=The+2022+USA+itinerary+of+the+relics

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Today we’re back in 17th-century England discussing two pairs of con men and all-around douchebags. First, we discuss Matthew Hopkins and John Stearne, witch-hunters during the English Civil War who amassed hundreds of victims. Then, we explore the fabricated Popish Plot of 1678-1681.

Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! We'd love to hear from you. Here's how to get in touch with us:

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