Step into the smoke-filled air of ancient graveyards and anatomy theatres as we explore one of history’s most elusive and controversial questions: the soul. What was it? Where did it reside in the human body? And how did it leave us at the moment of death?

Join us as we dive deep into the fierce debates, bizarre rituals, and haunting beliefs surrounding the soul’s existence. With special guest Richard Sugg, author of The Smoke of the Soul, we’ll journey through medieval Europe to the dawn of modern consciousness, unearthing the soul’s secrets that once shaped the very fabric of Western thought.

From the battlegrounds of faith and reason to the unsettling rituals that questioned the soul’s very nature, we’ll reveal how this ancient enigma continues to influence us today. Light a candle and join us for an unforgettable exploration of the hidden history of the soul—where the mystical and the macabre collide.

My Special Guest Is Dr. Richard Sugg

Richard Sugg is the author of thirteen books, including John Donne (Palgrave, 2007); Mummies, Cannibals and Vampires (Turkish trans 2018; 3rd edn 2020); A Century of Supernatural Stories (2015); Fairies: A Dangerous History (Reaktion, 2018; Japanese trans 2022); The Real Vampires (Amberley, 2019); and Bloodlust (2020). He lectured in English and History at the universities of Cardiff and Durham (2001-2017), and his work has appeared in The Guardian, The Sun, the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, BBC History, the New Yorker, and Der Spiegel, as well as on international television.

In this episode, you will be able to:

2. Discover the bizarre rituals and mystical practices surrounding the soul’s departure from the body at death, and how these shaped religious and cultural beliefs.

3. Follow the intriguing journey through medieval Europe to modern consciousness with Richard Sugg, as we examine how the concept of the soul evolved and transformed over centuries.

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Book Links:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3ARichard+Sugg&s=relevancerank&text=Richard+Sugg&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1⁠