We’re back with a vengeance this week, talking all things medieval French insanity! We begin with Marguerite Porete, the French-Belgian beguine whose book rocked the entire Holy Roman Empire. Then, we discuss the 1609 Labourd witch-hunt and its judge, Pierre de Lancre, who, among other contemporary witch-hunters and theologians, had an unfortunate but familiar obsession with the devil’s penis.

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:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast

Twitter: @saintsnwitches

We are a podcast created by, researched by, hosted by, and produced by women. The vast majority of our listeners are women and nonbinary people. This week, we are standing in solidarity with the women (both cis and trans) of America (www.mothersdaystrike.com), and we do not have an episode for you. Instead, we have a short message that we hope you'll be open to hearing, regardless of your beliefs. 

We'll be back to our regularly-scheduled programming next week. For more information, please see the sources listed below.

Sources: 

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/21835435-scotus-initial-draft

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/05/03/us/roe-wade-abortion-supreme-court?smid=url-copy#leaked-draft-of-supreme-court-ruling-signals-a-seismic-shift-in-american-politics-and-law

https://web.archive.org/web/20170902203058/https://www.ewtn.com/library/PROLIFE/INDIRECT.TXT

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/05/10/1097734167/in-texas-abortion-laws-inhibit-care-for-miscarriages

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/nov/29/ohio-extreme-abortion-bill-reimplant-ectopic-pregnancy

https://www.npr.org/2022/05/06/1096676197/7-persistent-claims-about-abortion-fact-checked

https://web.archive.org/web/20100526225112/http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10335

https://www.jstor.org/stable/3752047

https://daily.jstor.org/abortion-remedies-medieval-catholic-nun/

https://www.cdc.gov/teenpregnancy/about/index.htm#:~:text=The%20US%20teen%20birth%20rate,decrease%20of%204%25%20from%202018.

https://time.com/6051811/private-adoption-america/

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/alitos-roe-v-wade-abortion-draft-ruling-betrays-medieval-ignorance-anc-rcna27473

Hold on to your leopards, folks: we’re back with another episode! This week, we travel to India to explore the work of Dr. Ian Stevenson, a psychiatrist who investigated cases of reincarnation in India in the 20th century. Then, we finally dive into the life, legacy, and controversy of St. (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta. Caviar? In this economy??

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:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast

Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Climb down from the penis tree, you goofballs: it's time for another episode of Saints & Witches! Today, we're talking about the country our newest listeners are from: Uganda! First, we look at the history of the region's colonization: specifically, the introduction of Catholicism in the late 19th century by the Missionaries of Africa (also known as the White Fathers). Then, we discuss several case studies of witchcraft in 19th century and modern-day Uganda, with an emphasis on child sacrifice and the interactions between alleged witches and witch-doctors. Not gonna lie: it's a bit of a bummer! In all seriousness, please heed content warnings throughout the episode, and as always, thanks for listening.

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:

Email: [email protected]

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Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Live from the desert: it’s another episode of Saints & Witches! This week, we finally take a closer look at our hated/beloved home state of Illinois. First, we analyze Michael Kleen’s Witchcraft in Illinois: A Cultural History, a deep dive into the history of witchcraft (accusations, trials, and remedies) in Illinois. Then, we discuss the first recorded history of Illinois, the 17th century journal of Jacques Marquette. Spoiler alert: things might be gay.

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:

Email: [email protected]

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Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Ah, the age-old saying! Today, we discuss two sagas filled with general slut behavior. First, we examine the 10th century Saeculum obscurum, or "dark age" of the papacy. (This. Story. Has. Everything.) Then, we head over to 16th century Britain to discuss three interconnected witch trials involving slaughtered hogs, some Lunchables, and a cat named Satan. What more could you ask for?

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:

Email: [email protected]

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Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Happy Golden Anniversary! For our fiftieth episode, we take a deep dive into the Aztec Empire. First, we explore the history and culture of the indigenous Mexica people, and then we discuss the fall of the Empire from both the Mexica point of view and from the point of view of their enemies, the Spanish conquistadors and the Tlaxcalan Nation. Finally, we wrap up with the stories of the three Child Martyrs of Tlaxcala.

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:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast

Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Gather round, children! This week we take a look at two legendary female figures whom medieval people had a really tough time categorizing. We discuss the myth of the female Pope Joan and the testicle chair that inspired it, then explore a few Arthurian legends that focus on the mysterious Morgan le Fay. Oh, and we get really mad along the way.

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:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @saintsandwitchespodcast

Twitter: @saintsnwitches

Welcome to Episode 48, in which we make our first trip to China! (Only we would unknowingly record this episode on the Chinese Lunar New Year and only realize it a few hours later.) Today, Liz dives into the drama and witchcraft accusations in the court of Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty (This. Story. Has. Everything), and Sarah gives an overview of the Roman Church's relationship with China over the centuries, focusing on the 120 Martyr Saints of China and the Boxer Rebellion. 

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:

Email: [email protected]

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Today's episode marks our long-overdue first visit to Brazil! We discuss the Catholic medium and "psychic surgeon" João Teixeira de Faria*, who performed healings and surgeries from his spiritual hospital in Abadiânia for 40+ years. Then, we discuss a series of grisly murders*, which some Brazilian citizens have blamed on practitioners of Candomblé and Umbanda, two Afro-Brazilian religions often seen by outsiders as "black magic." At the end of the episode, Liz delivers a shocking revelation to Sarah about her first impression of her!

*Content warning: graphic descriptions of surgery, sexual assault, rape, and murder.

Enjoying the podcast? Please take a moment to rate/review/subscribe! Here's how to get in touch with us:

Email: [email protected]

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Twitter: @saintsnwitches