Outcasts of the Earth

This week, we explore the first large-scale witch hunt in European history. Occurring in the French-speaking region of Switzerland, the Valais Witch Trials led to the execution of 376 people, the majority of which were men. Tune in to hear how a coordinated effort to eliminate heretical sects in the region turned into a widespread hunt for witches accused flying through the night to plan their devilish deeds. This episode looks at the origins and deadly legacy of this witch hunt, as well as what separates the events that occurred in Valais from other witch hunts that followed. Sources:Hans Peter Broedel, “Fifteenth-century witch beliefs”/ in Brian P. Levack (ed.), The Oxford handbook of witchcraft in early modern Europe and colonial America, Oxford University Press, 2013.Phil Carradice, Witches and Witch Hunts Through the Ages (Pen & Sword Books, 2024). B.F. Cotterill, The Witch Hunts. In: Are Children Reliable Witnesses? (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).Richard Kieckhefer, "Mythologies of Witchcraft in the Fifteenth Century," Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft 1, no. 1 (2006): 79-108. Lois Martin, A Brief History of Witchcraft (Running Press, 2010). P. G. Maxwell-Stuart, Witch Beliefs and Witch Trials in the Middle Ages : Documents and Readings, Bloomsbury Publishing, 2011. Kathrin Utz Tremp, The Heresy of Witchcraft in Western Switzerland and Dauphiné (Fifteenth Century) in Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Vol. 6, No. 1 (2011): 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1353/mrw.2011.0008Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional featured music:The following songs are all by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/“Dragon and Toast”“Ossuary 2 - Turn”“The Other Side of the Door”“Dark Standoff”“Political Ad”“Darkest Child”“Ghost Processional”“Morgana Rides”“Thunder Dreams”

This episode dives into the history behind one of the most significant texts in the history of the early modern witch hunts that took hold across several European countries, the Malleus Maleficarum. This consequential text defined what constituted a witch, the depravity of witches and their practices, and ultimately served as a guide through the legal processes one would need to pursue in order to secure a conviction and an execution of such a witch. This book retains one of the bloodiest legacies in history. Take a listen to learn where it came from, and what effect it had on the expansive waves of witch hunts in early modern European history. Sources:Pope Innocent VIII, Summis desiderantes affectibus (December 5, 1484), from George L. Burr, ed., The Witch-Persecutions Vol. 3, No. 4 (1896). Heinrich Kraemer, Malleus Maleficarum, English translation by Rev. Montague Summers (1928). Reginald Scot, The Discoverie of Witchcraft (1584), republished by Dover Publications, 1972. —Arran Birks, “The ‘Hammer of Witches’: An Earthquake in the Early Witch Craze,” The Historian  (January 24, 2020). Hans Peter Broedel, “The Malleus Maleficarum and the Construction of Witchcraft: Theology and Popular Belief,” in Witchcraft in Early Modern Europe, edited by Merry E. Wiesner (2007). Joni Creed, “King James VI and I: Witch-Hunter and Protector of the Realm,” MA Thesis (2020). Maral Deyrmenjian, “Pope Innocent VIII (1484-1492) and the Summis desiderantes affectibus” (2020). Vera Hoorens, Hans Renders, “Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Witchcraft: A Reappraisal,” The Sixteenth Century Journal, Vol. 43, No. 1 (Spring 2012): 3-18. Lois Martin, A Brief History of Witchcraft (Running Press, 2010).Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional featured music:By Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com):"SCP-x1x""Satiate Percussion""Metaphysik""Crowd Hammer""Danse of Questionable Tuning""Heavy Heart"

This episode explores a familiar, oft-repeated tale of the ill-fated love shared between the lowly Agnes Bernaur and noble Albrecht, the future Duke of Bavaria. In a story that has come to shape the history and lore of the German city of Augsburg, we will see how a love shared between people from different worlds is ripped apart as Albrecht’s father took extreme measures to keep the two apart by accusing Agnes of being a witch. Sources:Anna Bond, “A Study of Agnes Bernauer,” Master’s Thesis, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (1906). Henry Garland and Mary Garland, eds., The Oxford Companion to German Literature, third edition (Oxford University Press, 1997). P.G. Maxwell-Stuart, Witch Beliefs and Witch Trials in the Middle Ages: Documents and Readings (2011). Ritchie Robertson, “Hebbel: Agnes Bernaur (1852),” German Political Tragedy (2024). Lyndal Roper, The Witch in the Western Imagination, University of Virginia Press (2012). Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional featured music:“Virtutes Instrumenti,” “Mourning Song,” and “Night Vigil” by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)“Space Ambient SiFi,” Lexin_Music

In this episode, we are covering the tragic story of Petronilla de Meath, a widower, a single mother, and working class woman who is largely remembered for being the first "witch" to be burned at the stake in Europe. In unpacking this story, we see how a power struggle that broke out between the rich and powerful in a medieval Irish town led to one woman taking the fall and suffering a horrific fate.Sources:Service of remembrance for Petronilla of Meath held at St. Canice’s Cathedral, Kilkenny (November 3, 2024). Speech delivered by Andrew McGuinnes, Mayor of Kilkenny. Shared by the Kilkenny Archaeological Society on December 7, 2024. L.S. Davidson and J.O. Ward, eds., The Sorcery and Trial of Alice Kyteler (Center for Medieval and Early Renaissance Studies, 1993). Nalina Eggert, “The Irish Woman Executed for Witchcraft 700 Years Ago,” BBC News (October 30, 2024). Lois Martin, A Brief History of Witchcraft (Running Press, 2010). Bernadette Williams, “The Sorcery and Trial of Alice Kyteler,” History Ireland Vol 2., No. 4 (Winter, 1994): 20-24. Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional featured music:“Long Note Three,” and “Virtutes Instrumenti,” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The history of witchcraft is a sordid tale that plagued and brought pure torment to a countless number of lives. With thousands upon thousands losing their lives to this belief in sinister, supernatural powers - usually wielded by malevolent women - this history includes an untold number of stories involving one of the great outcasts of the past. In this inaugural episode of season two (!), we explore the origins of magic, how spellwork became tied to Satanic pacts, and why women, in particular, were the falls to be suspected of being a witch. Sources:Owen Davies, ed.  The Oxford History of Witchcraft and Magic (2023). Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional music by Kevin MacLeod:Special HarvestThe PyreMaliciousIntrepid(incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The trailer for season two of Outcasts of the Earth: The Season of the Witch, debuting October 12! Check back for new episodes releasing every other week.

In this final episode of season one, I take a look back on the history of alcohol, touching on some of the key topics and takeaways from antiquity to Prohibition. What can we glean from this history of drinking, and more importantly, the so-called 'drunkard'? Where does this issue stand now, and how do those suffering from alcohol use disorder today compare to those who struggled with drinking centuries ago? Tune in to listen to this concluding discussion, which includes my own thoughts on the season, as well as my notes of thanks to all who helped me make this show. A massive thanks goes out to all who have listened, too! Listen through to the end of the episode for a trailer for season two: The Season of the Witch, premiering October 12!Sources:Bourdon, J. L., et al, “Characterization of service use for alcohol problems across generations and sex in adults with alcohol use disorder,” Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research, 44(3), 746-757. “Global Alcoholic Beverages Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type…” Spherical Insights (2023).Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposer

From 1920 to 1933, the United States seemed to achieve the impossible: the federal government amended the Constitution to turn the US "dry." The so-called 'Noble Experiment,' better known as Prohibition, did little to dampen the spirit of the Roaring 20s... It also did little to stop people from drinking. For this raucous thirteen-year period, the US was overtaken by illicit liquor, expanding criminal organizations, and an unprecedented growth of federal power. Whiskey prescriptions, infamous gangsters, a federal poisoning program, and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre are all covered this week - tune in and let's raise a glass to this unforgettable era in alcohol history.Primary Sources:“Jurors Go on Trial, Drank Up Evidence; Los Angeles Judge Summons Nine for Discharge from Service,” New York Times (January 7, 1928). “Moe Smith, Revenue A gent, Dies; Scourge of Prohibition Violators; Worked With Partner, as Izzy and Moe, to Arrest 4,000u Exploits Amused Many,” New York Times (Dec. 16, 1960).Charles Norris, “Our Essay in Extermination,” The North American Review (1928). "I've Got the Prohibition Blues," by Carl Zerse (1919), performed by Fred Field and James Pitt-Payne.Secondary Sources:Daniel A. Laliberte, “The Real McCoy,” Naval History (February 2020). Michael Lerner, Dry Manhattan: Prohibition in New York City (2008). Lisa McGirr, The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State (2015). Daniel Okrent, Last Call: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition (2011). W. J. Rorabaugh, Prohibition : A Concise History, Oxford University Press, 2018.Christine Sismondo, America Walks into a Bar: a Spirited History of Taverns and Saloons, Speakeasies, and Grog Shops (2011). Karen Taborn, Walking Harlem: the Ultimate Guide to the Cultural Capital of Black America (2018).Mark Thornton, “Cato Institute Policy Analysis No. 157: Alcohol Prohibition was a Failure” Cato Institute (July 17, 1991). Prohibition: An Interactive History, an online exhibit by The Mob Museum (further information and online exhibits are available at themobmuseum.org)Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposer

By the turn of the twentieth century, the US was moving ever closer to adopting a nationwide prohibition against all intoxicating drinks - but how did we get here? How did the US go from being known for having a robust drinking culture to supporting a constitutional amendment against alcohol? This episode explores the strategies used by the Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and the Anti-Saloon League (ASL), breaking down how the temperance movement managed to achieve its ultimate goal. Smashed saloons, unhinged temperance hymns, and men in drag abound! Let's see how the US ended up going 'dry' in 1920. Primary Sources:T.S. Arthur, Ten Nights in a Bar-Room, and What I Saw There (1854).Grace Clifford Howard, “The Woman's Crusade: Forerunner of the WCTU,” (excerpt) 1891. Digital Public Library of America. Courtesy of University of Washington.Frederick Marryat, A Diary in America: With Remarks on its Institutions, Part 2, Volume 1 (1839). Carry A. Nation, The Use and Need of the Life of Carry A. Nation (1909). Secondary Sources:Holly Berkley Fletcher, Gender and the American Temperance Movement of the Nineteenth Century (Taylor & Francis, 2007). Michael Lewis and Richard Hamm, eds., Prohibition’s Greatest Myths: The Distilled Truth about America’s Anti-Alcohol Crusade (Louisiana State University Press, 2020). Annemarie McAllister, Writing for Social Change in Temperance Periodicals: Conviction and Career (Routledge, 2023). Alfred W. McCoy, Beer of Broadway Fame: The Piel Family and their Brooklyn Brewery (State University of New York Press, 2016). Louise Slavicek, The Prohibition Era: Temperance in the United States (Chelsea House, 2009). Richard Worth, Teetotalers and Saloon Smashers: The Temperance Movement and Prohibition (Enslow Publishers, 2009). Digital collection: Westerville Public Library’s collection on the Anti-Saloon League, including thousands of documents, images, stories, and songs about the ASL. You can access the collection here.Written and recorded by: Kenyon PayneTheme music: "Southern Gothic" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 Licensehttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Outro music: “D´vil,” anrocomposerAdditional featured music:“Elven Language,” Atmani_Art“Dramatic Background Orchestra,” White_Records“In the Saloon,” Piano_Music“Requiem to Mozart,” DirectToDreams“Marching Music On Parade,” John Philip Sousa (Nesrality)“Lively Big Band Swing,” nickpanek“Wild West Saloon,” Table Top Audio“Lips that Touch Liquor,” sung by the Women's Choir at Concordia College, courtesy of the Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County“Father’s a Drunkard, and Mother is Dead,” (1866), sung by E. A. Parkhurst