The Witching Hour

Dueling clans of cunning folk! Multiple bewitched horses! Accusations of murder! A devil-boy named Tib! This episode has it all. Join us as we discuss the Pendle Witch Trails of 1612, which are among the best recorded witch trials in history.

Across the pond, Walpurgisnacht has become something of a second Halloween. Join Shannon and CJ as they trace the holiday's pagan origins.

C.J. and Shannon discuss Stacey Hall's witchy debut novel, The Familiars! Set against the backdrop of the Pendle Witch Trails, The Familiars explores the difficulties of being a women during a time when suspicion and accusation run rampant.

On this new moon in Pisces, come learn about the fearsome witch of Slavic folklore, Baba Yaga! Baba Yaga is easily one of the most recognizable characters from Eastern Europe, and her ambiguous morality makes her a feminist favorite.

For this Snow Moon, C.J. and Shannon mix it up a bit by introducing a new series on familiars. Join them in the first installment as they explore the long, witchy history of owls in myth and folklore.

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Shannon and C.J. explore Anna Biller's instant feminist classic The Love Witch. Dripping with sumptuous, witchy details, The Love Witch follows Elaine, a young witch who is desperate for love and will do whatever it takes to find the perfect man... even if that means getting rid of those who don't quite make the cut.

Shannon and C.J. examine Luca Guadagnino's dazzling 2018 remake of Suspiria.

C.J. and Shannon explore various murders in history that all have ties to witchcraft or the occult. Topics covered included:

The California Witch Killers

Adolfo Constanzo

Mary Bateman

The Zodiac Killer

Richard Ramirez

Elizabeth Bathory

Lawrence Harris

Irenia Cotner, Jenny Wolfe, and Oscar Eck

Just in time for the holiday season, C.J. and Shannon discuss the Italian Christmas witch La Befana.

Sources discussed:

"Some Notes on Italian Folk Customs" by Stanley Gee https://www.jstor.org/stable/1260143

Outro Music: The Holly and The Ivy by Mediaeval Baebes

Shannon and C.J. missed the limited Suspiria release, so in the mean time, enjoy the fascinating tale of Isobel Gowdie from Scotland's Early Modern Period. Gowdie is famous for providing some of the most detailed confessions of witchcraft ever recorded, and they included fantastical encounters with fairies, the Devil, and other witches.

You can listen to the symphony her story inspired here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oSE7JWAuA8

The Visions of Isobel Gowdie: Magic, Witchcraft, and Dark Shamanism in Seventeen-Century Scotland: https://www.amazon.com/Visions-Isobel-Gowdie-Witchcraft-Seventeenth-Century/dp/1845191803

Read along for the upcoming episode about the witch of Lime Street: https://www.amazon.com/Witch-Lime-Street-Seduction-Houdini/dp/0307451070/