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MonsterTalk

S05E17 - America Bewitched with Owen Davies (part 1)

MonsterTalk

Monster House LLC

Natural Sciences, Society & Culture, Science

4.61.3K Ratings

🗓️ 1 February 2026

⏱️ 34 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In part one of our two-part interview with Owen Davies, we discuss the history of witch trials, accusations, murder, and other troubles bubbling up from post-Salem accusations in America. In part two, next week, we will continue the discussion with thoughtful considerations of the meaning of witch and how it can be an identity or an accusation.  Be sure and catch both parts of this fascinating chat. 

Some related viewing/reading:

A curious case of Black Magic in Norfolk

Blake's article about the "PA Hex Hollow" murders (Skeptoid #996)

Books by Owen*:
Grimoires: A History of Magic Books

Popular Magic: Cunning-folk in English History

Magic: A Very Short Introduction

Folklore: A journey through the past and present (with Ceri Houlbrook)

The Oxford Illustrated History of Witchcraft and Magic 

America Bewitched: The Story of Witchcraft After Salem

*We use Amazon affiliate links for books when available

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support.

Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Monster House Presents.

0:09.5

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0:12.6

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0:17.2

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0:20.6

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0:24.4

and while we have done what we can to avoid ads that are divisive,

0:28.0

the system that ejects them sometimes ignores our preferences

0:30.8

and always seems to ignore our efforts to not interrupt the conversational flow.

0:35.0

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0:38.4

Patreon remains the best way to enjoy commercial-free listening to our content,

0:41.9

plus you generally get extended coverage of the subject.

0:45.0

We're working on other ways to consume our content as well, so please stay tuned.

0:51.7

It's witchcraft.

0:53.7

I'll say that right now.

0:55.0

You know, there are different factions of that.

0:57.0

West African-born couple have been found guilty of torturing and murdering a 15-year-old boy in a trial bedeviled by witchcraft possession and exorcism.

1:06.0

Nathan Miller is charged with capital murder. He declined to appear in court. Authorities say he believed the victims were practicing witchcraft.

1:14.6

It's actually quite unlike anything we've ever seen before.

1:20.6

A giant hairy creature, part ape, part man.

1:26.6

In Larkness, a 24 mile long bottomless lake in the highlands of Scotland.

1:31.6

It's a creature known as the Loch Ness Monster.

1:56.9

It's a creature known as the Loch Ness Monster. Monster Talk.

...

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