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PODCAST

The Thing About Salem

Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack

The Thing About Salem is your resource for in-depth coverage of the Salem Witch Trials, the largest outbreak of witchcraft accusations in American history. Witch trial descendants and experts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack examine a different “thing” about the Salem Witch-Hunt in each new conversational episode, uncovering a topic, person, or place associated with the witch hunt of 1692-1693. 15-minutes a week is all you need to have all your Salem Witch Trials questions answered. Were there any

history

All Episodes

00:04:29

The Swedish Connection to the Salem Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/06

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we explore the significant connection between the Swedish witch panic of the late 1660s and the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. We discuss the vivid details of Swedish witchcraft, including the account of Blockula and the meetings with the devil, and how these stories influenced the spectral testimonies in Salem. We highlight the role of Reverend Cotton Mather in importing these European witchcraft concepts to New England, which reshaped the narratives of

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00:05:00

Primary Source Documents of the Salem Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/06

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we talk about the primary source documents that form the backbone of our understanding of the Salem Witch Trials. They highlight the monumental work behind the 'Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt,' published in 2009, which involved 12 scholars over a decade to compile. Despite the loss of official court records, 980 surviving documents provide a tangible and chilling glimpse into the events of 1692, including arrest warrants, interrogation records,

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00:04:31

Folk Magic in Colonial New England

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/04

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, we discuss the practice of folk magic in Colonial America. They discuss how accusers and neighbors in Salem employed so-called countermagic, such as witch bottles, concealed objects, and apotropaic symbols, for protection and future-telling. The infamous witch cake, a pivotal element in the Salem Witch Trials, is also examined. For more insights, viewers are encouraged to check out episodes featuring historian Emerson Baker and Maya Rook.The Thing About

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00:04:27

How Transatlantic Communication Impacted the Salem...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/04

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore whether the witch panic in America was an isolated phenomenon or influenced by external factors. They discuss how the early American colonies, despite appearing isolated, were highly connected to Europe through transatlantic communication. This exchange included books, pamphlets, and letters that profoundly shaped the witch trials in New England. The hosts highlight the influence of English Witchfinder General

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00:05:53

Condemned by Poverty: The Trial of Sarah Good

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/02

This episode of 'Salem Witch Trials Daily' delves into the life and tragic fate of Sarah Good, one of the first accused witches in Salem Village. Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore Sarah Good's troubled life, including her early family tragedies, poverty, and the harsh Puritan mindset that branded her a witch. The episode details the accusations against her, the severe examination she faced, her husband's betrayal, and the devastating impact on her children, particularly

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00:07:27

The Role of Animals in the Salem Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/01

In this episode of 'Salem Witch Trials Daily,' hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack delve into the unique role animals played in the Salem Witch Trials. They explore instances of livestock being bewitched, animals as manifestations of the devil, and the spectral creatures that haunted the courtroom testimonies. From Elizabeth Howe's bewitched mare to Dorothy Good's snake familiar, they discuss how animals were central characters in the accusations and served as evidence of

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00:16:27

The Judges of the Salem Witch Trials Courts

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/02/01

What's in This Episode:The Court of Oyer and Terminer operated for less than five months in 1692, but the nine judges who sat on that bench sentenced nineteen people to death by hanging and allowed another man to be pressed to death under stones. This episode goes judge by judge, revealing the real men who wielded power without accountability during the Salem witch trials.What You'll Learn:Discover the legal framework that made the Salem witch trials possible, from the Body of Liberties of

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00:16:24

The Afflicted People of the Salem Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/31

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack delve into the significant role of the afflicted persons during the Salem Witch Trials. They reveal that 73 individuals, not just a handful of girls, claimed affliction, including adults like Ann Putnam Sr. and John Indian. The episode traces the origins and evolution of the afflictions, from earlier witchcraft cases in Europe and America to the onset of symptoms in Salem Village in 1692. Detailed accounts of key

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00:04:32

Neighborly Animosity and Casual Curses: Salem Witch...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/31

In this episode of 'Salem Witch Trials Daily,' hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore the mundane disputes that escalated into deadly witchcraft accusations during the Salem Witch Trials. They discuss key examples, such as Martha Carrier's land dispute with Benjamin Abbott, Sarah Good's muttered curses, Susannah Martin's confrontation over oxen, Margaret Scott's harvest-related grievance, and Wilmot Redd's harsh wish following a theft accusation. The episode

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00:08:33

Massachusetts Body of Liberties: Salem Witch Trials...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/31

This episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosted by Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, explores the Massachusetts Body of Liberties, New England's first legal code compiled in 1641 by Nathaniel Ward. The document introduced rights that resemble those in today's U.S. Bill of Rights but also reflected the Puritanical norms of its time by prohibiting practices like witchcraft. It laid out rights and liberties for various inhabitants but was heavily influenced by biblical scripture, contributing to

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00:05:15

Salem Village Independence

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/29

On January 28, 1692, Salem Village voted to present a petition for independence. This episode delves into the history of Salem, established in 1626, and its geographical expansion. Key figures like Nathaniel Putnam, John Putnam, Francis Nurse, and others played crucial roles. The script also examines the evolution of land ownership and the establishment of Salem Farms. By the late 1660s, farmers sought to hire their own minister and create a separate parish. After multiple petitions, the village

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00:06:56

George Burroughs: Minister Accused of Witchcraft in...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/28

This episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosted by Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack, explores the life of George Burroughs, a former Salem Village minister accused and executed for witchcraft in 1692. Born in Virginia around 1653, Burroughs faced multiple attacks by French and Wabanaki forces throughout his life and survived each one. He held various ministerial positions in Maine before moving to Salem Village in 1680, where he encountered financial difficulties and personal losses. Accused of

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00:05:30

William Stoughton, Chief Justice of the Salem Witch...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack delve into the life and career of William Stoughton, the Chief Justice of the Salem Witch Trial courts. They outline his early life, education, and various roles in government and judiciary from his beginnings in England to his significant positions in Massachusetts, including his controversial involvement in the Salem Witch Trials. The episode highlights key events leading up to and during the trials, providing

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00:09:57

Governor Sir William Phips: Salem Witch Trials Daily

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/26

Today, we examine the life of William Phips. Born in 1651 in Maine, Phips learned to read at 21 and made his fortune diving for Spanish treasure. His efforts led to his appointment as Massachusetts Bay's first royal governor in 1692. However, his governorship became infamous due to his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials, where 20 people were executed. The episode covers his creation of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, his reliance on spectral evidence, and the eventual suspension of the

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00:13:44

The First Terrifying Accounts of the Salem Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/25

The Salem Witch Trials became a publishing phenomenon before they even ended. Discover how writers raced to document the crisis in real time, defying colony-wide publication bans to get their accounts into print.This episode explores the groundbreaking early writings about Salem, from Minister Deodat Lawson's eyewitness account published just two weeks after his 1692 visit to Salem Village, to the fierce theological debates that followed. Learn how these documents shaped public opinion,

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00:06:24

Who Wrote the First Book about the Salem Witch Trials?

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/24

Learn about the first publications printed about the Salem Witch Trials in this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily. Hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack delve into the rich and complex narrative of the 1692 witch trials through an analysis of primary documents. They discuss how early accounts like Reverend Deodat Lawson's 'A Brief and True Narrative' fueled the panic, while later writings from figures like Thomas Brattle, Cotton Mather, Increase Mather, and Robert Calef reflect a

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00:03:16

Familiars and Witch Marks: Salem Witch Trials Daily...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/23

In this episode of Salem Witch Trials Daily, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack explore the origins and use of so-called 'witch marks' as evidence in the Salem Witch Trials. The episode delves into Tituba's testimony about being tormented by supernatural beings, the examination of women like Rebecca Nurse and Elizabeth Proctor for supposed witch marks, and the role of English legal guides in shaping these practices. The hosts discuss how authorities claimed these marks were signs of a

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00:08:04

Salem in Context: North American Witch Trials

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/23

In this episode of 'Salem Witch Trials Daily,' we look into witch trials across North America, covering various colonial regions, including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and New Mexico. We highlight key cases, like the executions of French Jesuit missionaries in New York, the trial of Grace Sherwood in Virginia, and the legal proceedings against Indigenous women in New Mexico. Witch hunting was a widespread phenomenon influenced by the exchange of news and legal practices

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00:11:21

Salem in Context: Witch Trials in England and New...

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/21

Today on Salem Witch Trials Daily, we examine witch trials in England and New England before the Salem Witch Trials, as we look into the origins and impacts of witchcraft beliefs and trials in colonial America, tracing their roots back to England. With insights from experts and historical researchers, the episode explores how English legal frameworks, notably the Witchcraft Acts of 1563 and 1604, and methodologies like those used by Matthew Hopkins influenced the witch trials in New England

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00:07:00

Salem in Context: Europe's Witch Trials, Part 2

The Thing About Salem ·

2026/01/21

In today’s Salem Witch Trials Daily, we continue our discussion of European Witch Trials. How were these witch trials conducted, and how did the age of witch-hunting in Europe ever end after 350 years of mass violence?The Thing About Witch Hunts / About Salem YouTube channel⁠Salem Witch Trials Daily Hub⁠Week 2 Course Work⁠The Thing About Salem⁠The Thing About Witch HuntsWolfgang Behringer, Witches and Witch-HuntsBrian A. Pavlac, Witch Hunts in the Western WorldBrian P. Levack, The Witch-Hunt in

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