Welcome to the Ways, Slates podcast about gender, feminism, and Covids real in imaginary.

Every episode you get a new pair of women to talk about the thing we can't get off our

minds.

You've got me, Rebecca Aneon, a senior editor at Slate.

And me, Jess Zimmerman, I write about feminism, monsters, witches, and all manner of scary

ladies.

Well as my five year old says about witches, they are quote, the only girl monsters,

unquote.

Now I know that's not true, as Jess, my co-host for today, can attest.

But they are certainly the sort of the first archetypal spooky scary figures that a five

year old liked mine would know about that are coded female.

Now as a history person, I am of course really interested in how the idea of witchery adheres

to various things that women do over history.

And as spooky seasons premiere month, October, winds down.

We wanted to take a minute on the waves to talk about how witches are fairing in 2022.

And we're going to use it pretty silly.

I don't know what you think Jess, new movie, Hocus Pocus 2, to do it.

I have a gift for my favorite customers.

Legend has it.

It's on the 16th birthday that a witch gets her powers.

Well I have great news for your kid because there are actually so many female coded monsters

and I'm really interested in all of them, which is why I wanted to talk about witches

...