Lexicons Unbound: Where Folklore Meets Your Algorithm

The Witch Next Door


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This October, Lexicons Unbound steps into the world of witches—not as broomstick caricatures, but as figures of power, resistance, and folklore. From Ozark “granny witches” to pop culture icons like Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ Eglantine Price and Bewitched’s Samantha, Melanie and Molly trace how the word witch has shifted from fear and persecution to reclamation and empowerment.

Blending personal stories, folklore, women’s history, and cultural commentary, they ask: what does it mean to be called a witch? How do accusations reflect social tensions? And why does the archetype continue to haunt, inspire, and empower women today?

Because maybe the witch we feared… was simply the woman next door.

Want sources, book lists, and more conversation? Visit our Podpage: Lexicons Unbound


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Lexicons Unbound: Where Folklore Meets Your AlgorithmBy Melanie Mason and Molly Wiant Cummins