Witch Hunt

• Perspectives on Disability, Stigma, and Witchcraft Accusations with Dr. Nora Groce

  Anthropologist Dr. Nora Groce from University College London discusses the troubling connection between disability and witchcraft accusations. Dr. Groce shares her research on why people with disabilities are targeted, including her study on the experience of persons with albinism in East Africa. We explore how traditional beliefs create stigma, discuss the global disability rights movement, and examine community-based solutions to protect vulnerable populations. This conversation will inform you on lesser-understood human rights issues related to witchcraft accusations worldwide.Buy Book: Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness on Martha's Vineyard Co-Authored by Nora GroceDisability & Inclusion Network AfricaProf. Nora Groce on World Disability DayCRIP CAMP TrailerCheck out our new podcastEnd Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

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• The Myth of the Witches' Flying Ointment with Michael Ostling

  In this scholarly episode of Witch Hunt Podcast, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack welcome historian Dr. Michael Ostling to examine one of witchcraft history's most persistent legends: the hallucinogenic flying ointment.Dr. Ostling carefully separates historical evidence from modern misconceptions, revealing how contemporary interpretations often reflect our own misogynistic projections rather than the experiences of those accused of witchcraft. Through thoughtful analysis, this episode respects the memory of innocent victims while providing listeners with a deeper understanding of how witchcraft myths evolve and persist across centuries.This conversation challenges popular assumptions and offers valuable historical context on this fascinating yet frequently misunderstood aspect of witch hunt history.Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of explicit sexual content related to historical witchcraft allegations.Michael Ostling's ResearchBuy: Fairies, Demons, and Nature Spirits 'Small Gods' at the Margins of Christendom, edited by Michael OstlingBuy: Emotions in the History of Witchcraft, co-edited by Michael OstlingBuy: Between the Devil and the Host Imagining Witchcraft in Early Modern Poland, by Michael OstlingCheck out our new podcast: The Thing About Salem on youtube!End Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

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• Genetics, Not Magic: Protecting Persons with Albinism in Uganda with Peter Ogik

  In this powerful episode, Josh and Sarah welcome Peter Ogik, Executive Director of Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism in Uganda, who shares his personal story and advocacy work.About our guest: Peter Ogik was born and raised on an island in Lake Victoria, Uganda. As the first person with albinism in his community of about 600 people, Peter faced discrimination from birth but was fortunate to have supportive parents who advocated for him, especially in school settings where he initially struggled due to bullying and visual impairments associated with albinism.Key topics discussed:Personal experiences with discrimination: Peter shares how he was called "a thing" rather than a person, and how children were told not to sit near him because of harmful myths.Educational challenges: Teachers initially placed Peter at the back of the classroom despite his visual impairments until his father intervened, leading to improved academic performance.Dangerous misconceptions: Peter survived three kidnapping attempts by those seeking to harvest his body parts for witchcraft, based on the false belief that they bring wealth.Health challenges: Persons with albinism face high risks of skin cancer, with over 90% dying before age 30 without proper protection and care.Women and girls with albinism: They face additional challenges, including sexual violence based on the myth that intercourse with a woman with albinism can cure HIV/AIDS.Advocacy work: Through his organization, Peter works to:Educate communities and change harmful perceptionsProvide mobile skin clinics and sun protectionTrain teachers to better support students with albinismAdvocate for policy changes like tax exemptions on sunscreenSigns of progress: Peter notes how community attitudes are changing, with more persons with albinism now graduating as doctors, lawyers, engineers, and other professionals.International Albinism Awareness Day: This UN-recognized day (celebrated since 2015) has become a powerful platform for education and policy influence in Uganda.Resources mentioned:Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA)Advantage Africa, a partner organization since 2013This episode highlights how education and advocacy can combat deadly superstitions and improve lives for marginalized groups. Peter's message is one of resilience and hope: "I can't wait to see the tomorrow whereby a person will not define me by my appearance, but will define me by my abilities."Source of the Nile Union of Persons with AlbinismAdvantage AfricaInternational Albinism Awareness Day Facebook PageEnd Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

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• Mary Bingham on Elizabeth Johnson, Jr, Victim of the Salem Witch Trials

  Discover the once-overlooked story of Elizabeth Johnson Jr., the Salem witch trial victim finally exonerated after 330 years. At just 22, this young Andover woman was pressured into falsely confessing to witchcraft in 1692. She narrowly escaped execution when Governor Phips ended the Salem witch trials. However, she was unjustly left out of the 1711 mass exoneration that cleared many others' names. Our guest, podcast regular Mary Bingham, reveals Elizabeth's remarkable life through court records and family histories, including reading us the powerful petition for clemency submitted by Elizabeth at age 42. Learn why this case, with a personal connection to our host Joshua Hutchinson, resonates with justice movements today and how Elizabeth's name was finally cleared in 2022. Mary Louise Bingham on Youtube: Sarah Wildes 1692Online Event Presenting Mary Louise Bingham on Dorothy Faulkner and the Forging of Two Families April 26, 2025 Live from the Rebecca Nurse Homestead  End Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

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• Decian Que Era Bruja con Judith Prat ( En Español)

  En el episodio de esta semana del podcast Witch Hunt, Josh y Sarah traducen al inglés cuando el invitado habla en español. Disfruten de esta nueva experiencia como nosotros. Damos la bienvenida a la fotógrafa documental y cineasta española Judith Prat. Con formación en derecho de los derechos humanos, Judith examina con contundencia la persecución de las mujeres acusadas de brujería en los Pirineos durante la Edad Moderna.Judith habla de su documental "Decian Que Era Bruja", que rinde homenaje a las mujeres inocentes víctimas de la caza de brujas en España. También comparte reflexiones sobre su exposición fotográfica "Brujas" y el fotolibro que la acompaña, con 67 impactantes imágenes que documentan los paisajes de los Pirineos y las mujeres que los habitan hoy.A través de su obra, Judith desafía la imagen estereotipada de las "brujas" como viejas brujas, revelando la verdad sobre las mujeres comunes que fueron perseguidas injustamente. Acompáñenos en esta fascinante conversación sobre la memoria, la justicia y la recuperación de narrativas históricas a través del arte.Judithprat.comArticle:Dénia reflects on femicide with the documentary 'They said she was a witch' by Judith Prat Purchase Judith Prat's Photo Book: Brujas Listen to episode: Secrets of the Basque Witch Hunt with Jan MachielsenEnd Witch Hunts U. S. Nonprofit OrganizationSign up for our NewsletterDonate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund

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