Best Witches Betwixt Podcasts (2024)

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Salem | Fear In A New World 43:00

14d ago43:00

43:00

We often think of the witch trials as something in the deep and distant past. But, as we'll hear in today's episode, the attitudes and behaviour that led to witch trials is as present today as it was then. In this third and final episode of our limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to Salem, Massachusetts, to find out how colonialism,…

1
#145 - Transmute queer rage into queer empowerment 1:21:47

9d ago1:21:47

1:21:47

)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…

1
Gladiators' Sex Lives 44:35

42m ago44:35

44:35

Who really were the gladiators of Ancient Rome? With them once again hitting the big screens this month, we wanted to take you back a couple of thousand years to find out more about the people who fought and what their lives were really like. What rights in society did they have? How often did they meet a gruesome end? And were they sex symbols? Jo…

1
Final Days of Captain Cook 37:26

2h ago37:26

37:26

The violent death of Captain James Cook, British explorer, on a Hawaiian beach in 1779 has become the stuff of legend. Should we believe the story that's been handed down? How should we remember a man who means so many different things to so many different people? Anthony Delaney tells Maddy Pelling the story of the Final Days of Captain Cook. Edit…

1
The Real Sylvia Plath 58:08

7m ago58:08

58:08

** TW: This episode contains themes of suicide ** Sylvia Plath was one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. During and since she died, she became known for her volatile relationship with fellow poet, Ted Hughes, as much as her own beautiful, confessional writing. What was Sylvia Plath like as a woman? What drew her and Ted Hughes to…

1
Ghosts of Hampton Court Palace 42:45

12m ago42:45

42:45

The ghost of Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII, screaming down a corridor. A nursemaid's spinning wheel clicking in the walls. Robed Tudor figures slamming open fire exits. A noisy group of ghosts haunt Hampton Court Palace. Tracy Borman, Joint Chief Curator at Historic Royal Palaces, joins Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney to guide them t…

1
Sex Lives of Presidents 36:57

11m ago36:57

36:57

With the US election happening, we wanted to take a look back at the presidents from the past what we know about their sex lives. Which president was well-endowed and supposedly presented it to staff in the Oval Office? Which president had an affair on his honeymoon? And which had an affair with his wife's secretary? And no, they're not all JFK. Jo…

1
Titanic: The Final Hours (Part 2) 48:03

3d ago48:03

48:03

Part 2/2. Iceberg, panic and lives changed forever. Loss, survival, and myth-making. Today is part two of the most famous maritime disaster in history. Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney through the tragic sinking of Titanic, from the fateful moment the iceberg is spotted through to what the wreck means today for people around the world. Special t…

1
What Made You Ugly In The Ancient World? 43:06

13m ago43:06

43:06

When we think about Greek and Roman beauty, we think of marble statues of huge men with tiny...feet. But what did it mean to be a beautiful woman? What role did their ideas of ugliness play in these ideas? And how did Christianity throw a curveball in all of this? Taking us back to this world is Caroline Vout, author of Exposed: The Greek and Roman…

1
The Town of Roundabouts 17:38

16h ago17:38

17:38

The Town of Roundabouts Verse 1 Photographs I took So many shades of colour Stapled in a book Suppose I never looked around The corners of this town Until I wrote it down Verse 2 Amenities and folk Shops and village pubs Don’t fix what isn’t broken They were right there on the door And now we long for more Reminiscent of before Chorus 60 Years we’v…

1
Trailer 5:59

19h ago5:59

5:59

Listen to our trailer to get a feel for our new podcast. ‘The Ballad of the Crocodile and the Underpass' - Stories of Washington New Town’, is a podcast ballad partnership between Washington Heritage Partnership, We Make Culture, University of Sunderland, Baseline Shift and Arts Centre Washington. Since April 2024 this partnership, podcaster and mu…

1
The King's Witch Trial: North Berwick Witches 33:49

12d ago33:49

33:49

Maddy and Anthony have a new TV documentary out all about King James VI of Scotland's witch hunts, available on History Hit TV. When James VI of Scotland's new wife, Anne of Denmark, is almost lost in a storm at sea he thinks he knows who is to blame. Witches. The King personally leads the investigation that follows, coming face-to-face with at lea…

1
#144 - "Tradition" evolves to meet the needs of the community 1:17:05

11d ago1:17:05

1:17:05

)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…

1
#142 - Hoping for the best while preparing for the worst 1:13:08

2d ago1:13:08

1:13:08

)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…

1
Titanic: The Doomed Ship (Part 1) 43:09

2d ago43:09

43:09

Part 1/2. Come on board the White Star Line's latest marvel, the splendour of the sea, the Titanic. Today we begin the story of the most ill-fated voyage in history. Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story this week with special thanks to our guest Marnie Wood a cultural historian and a producer on Titanic: In Colour. Written by Maddy Pelling…

1
18th Century Dating: From Booty Calls to 'Bundling' 37:25

5d ago37:25

37:25

What was life like as a single person in the 18th century? What if you became pregnant out of wedlock? In today's episode, Kate talks to Angela Muir, author of Deviant MaternityIllegitimacy in Wales, c. 1680–1800, to find out what navigating single life was like for the lower classes: from strange dating customs such as 'bundling', to evidence we h…

1
Irish Origins of Halloween 49:27

6d ago49:27

49:27

Pumpkins, trick or treating and ghost stories are what we associate with Halloween, but what about turnips, fairies and a fortune-telling cake? Anthony and Maddy are joined by historian Dan Snow, and host of sister podcast Dan Snow’s History Hit. They go in search of the origins of Halloween, rooted on the island of Ireland, in the ancient Celtic f…

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Iceland | The Men Who Burned As Witches 32:35

10d ago32:35

32:35

When we think of the witch trials, we often think of women being charged. Whilst misogyny was at the heart of many of the witch trials, this isn't the full story. In this second episode of a limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to the the Westfjords of Iceland, to find out why it was mostly men, not women, who were burned at the stak…

1
Execution of Lady Jane Grey 40:18

9d ago40:18

40:18

This Tudor's story is intense and tragic. She's known as Lady Jane Grey but we ought to change that to 'Queen Jane'. That's who she was, even though she didn't want it, and it cost her her life in the end. Hear how Jane Grey became Queen Jane and how the shortest reign in English history ended in execution. Our guest is Dr Tracy Borman who has a do…

1
#141 - Werking on our HELTH 1:13:45

10d ago1:13:45

1:13:45

)O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel in which we discuss various topics relevant to the experience of a queer witch. Check us out on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Go…

1
Final Days of Anne Boleyn 36:49

13d ago36:49

36:49

Today we’re exploring the grim and heroic final days of the Anne Boleyn, the thousand day queen. We are joined by the one-and-only Dr Tracy Borman who bestselling book on this topic is Anne Boleyn & Elizabeth I: The Mother and Daughter Who Changed History. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlotte Long. Enjoy u…

1
Nefertiti: The Greatest Ancient Egyptian Queen? 1:00:28

13d ago1:00:28

1:00:28

Ancient Egyptian rulers, incest, the Nazis and female empowerment, all in one episode! 'But how?' You say. 'What story could possibly bring all of these things together?' This is the story of Queen Nefertiti and her bust. Kate is joined by Joyce Tyldesley and Monica Hanna to find out just who this woman was, and how a statue of her ended up in Berl…

1
Inside the Witch Trials: Pendle | The Child Who Condemned Her Family 36:18

15d ago36:18

36:18

People in the 17th century were at spiritual war with the devil. It was a time of huge upheaval. What became known as the witch trials soon followed. In this first episode of a limited series, Inside the Witch Trials, we go back to the English village of Pendle in 1612, to find out how and why a nine year old girl was able to condemn her family to …

1
Ménage à Murder: 1920s Love Triangle Killers 49:20

16d ago49:20

49:20

Edith Thompson was the model 1920's flapper girl. Her husband Percy was more suburban. When young Freddy Bywater entered the marriage home, things became deadly. This week Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story of a murder case that gripped the nation. Written by Maddy Pelling. Edited and Produced by Freddy Chick. Senior Producer is Charlott…

1
Orgasms & Skincare According to a Medieval Nun 38:04

19d ago38:04

38:04

Hildegard of Bingen, the 12th century nun, was a certified genius and a true polymath. From her many side hustles to her skincare recommendations, she wrote about everything from what happens when the world ends to what the female orgasm feels like. Why would a celibate nun know about this? What did she have to say about swollen testicles? And why …

1
Bodies in the Walls: Postwar London's Darkest Crime 50:08

20d ago50:08

50:08

John Reginald Christie was the most notorious murderer of his era. On the outside he was every inch the Old Fashioned Englishman, respectable norms personified. But inside the walls and under the floors of his flat at 10 Rillington Place were the bodies of the women and babies he had killed. Our guest today is Kate Summerscale, groundbreaking true-…

1
Sex & Scandal in Catherine of Aragon's Court 41:51

22d ago41:51

41:51

When Henry VIII wanted a divorce from Catherine of Aragon, he needed to prove that she was not a virgin when they wed. One woman was key to proving this: Catalina of Motril, Catherine's enslaved servant who was always present in the royal bedroom. Before the divorce, though, what was Catalina's experience like in the heart of the Tudor court? What …

1
Who was Jack the Ripper? The Doctor (Suspect 4) 39:46

23d ago39:46

39:46

Part 4/4. By looking at the men accused of being Jack the Ripper, we uncover dark truths about Victorian society - and our own. Why were these men, most of them almost certainly innocent, singled out as monsters? Today Anthony Delaney tells Maddy Pelling about how quack doctor Francis Tumblety, an American, became a prime suspect in the case. He is…

1
Illegitimacy: Sex & Secrecy in the 18th Century 44:24

1M ago44:24

44:24

Why were children punished for illegitimacy in the 18th century? And what does the word even mean? The truth is quite shocking, and probably still affects a lot of the people you know today. Joining Kate today is Kate Gibson, historian and author of Illegitimacy, Family, and Stigma in England, 1660-1834, to explore the ways that female sexuality pl…

1
Burke & Hare: Scotland’s Most Notorious Serial Killers 44:54

27d ago44:54

44:54

Discover the true story of Burke and Hare’s murderous rampage through the streets of Edinburgh, all to serve the needs of the city’s scientific minds. We're rerunning this early episode to mark the release of Maddy and Anthony's new documentary on History Hit TV all about Burke and Hare's story. Anthony tells Maddy the unnerving details about the i…

1
Medieval Chastity Belts: History Unlocked 45:38

29d ago45:38

45:38

Sexual purity was hugely importance in the medieval world, especially for women. How did chastity work in practice? Why was it so important? And was the infamous chastity belt really used? Joining Kate today is friend of the show and co-host of our sister podcast, Gone Medieval, Eleanor Janega, to help us unlock the mysteries of Medieval chastity o…

1
Who was Jack the Ripper? The Artist (Suspect 3) 50:21

1M ago50:21

50:21

Part 3/4. By looking at the men accused of being Jack the Ripper, we uncover dark truths about Victorian society - and our own. Why were these men, most of them almost certainly innocent, singled out as monsters? Today Anthony Delaney tells Maddy Pelling about how the celebrated artist Walter Sickert became a leading suspect for many. His art is un…

1
#140 - So we're all astrology experts now 1:25:43

1M ago1:25:43

1:25:43

Unfortunately, EP 139's audio quality wasn't usable for audio-only listeners. The full video livestream is on our YouTube channel. )O( Witches Betwixt is a collective of queer witches & allies representing a wide variety of magickal practices and spiritual paths. On Sundays (2pm ET) we livestream a 60+ minute weekly episode on our YouTube channel i…

1
Sex in Ancient Mesopotamia 50:40

1M ago50:40

50:40

How sexually liberated were the people of Ancient Mesopotamia? In what is modern day Iraq and dates back to around 3000 BC. The answer may surprise you, with gender fluidity and sexual diversity quite commonplace. Look no further than their frisky goddess, Ishtar. Taking us back to this fascinating period is Stephanie Budin, historian and author of…

1
Wounds of Christ: Macabre History of Stigmata 35:18

1M ago35:18

35:18

The wounds that Christ received on the cross - the stigmata - have had a strange afterlife, reappearing on the flesh of followers from St Francis of Assisi right through to the present. The stigmata are most commonly found on young women and are often accompanied by other miracles. What can this strange history teach us? Maddy Pelling and Anthony D…

1
Underwear: Codpieces, Loin Cloths & Thongs 34:35

1M ago34:35

34:35

Whatever your underwear preferences, have you ever wondered about their history? From the Tudor codpiece to Victorian bloomers, they've all got a story to tell. Sharing them with Kate today is Nina Edwards, author of The Virtues of Underwear: Modesty, Flamboyance and Filth. This episode was edited by Max Carrey, the producer was Stuart Beckwith. Th…

1
Who was Jack the Ripper? The Barber (Suspect 2) 51:39

1M ago51:39

51:39

Part 2/4. By looking at the men accused of being Jack the Ripper, we uncover dark truths about Victorian society - and our own. Why were these men, most of them almost certainly innocent, singled out as monsters? Today Anthony Delaney tells Maddy Pelling about Aaron Kosminski, a Polish Jew living in Whitechapel who later became suspected of being J…

1
What Did The Vikings Really Look Like? 40:04

1M ago40:04

40:04

Were the Vikings the original trendsetters? Even when they were raiding the poor monks in Lindsfarne in 793, they were passing on hairstyles that annoyed some of the local elders. Why did they file their teeth? How often did they bathe? And what influence did their gods have on all of this? Joining Kate today to explore the beauty standards of the …

1
Ned Kelly: Australia's Notorious Outlaw 38:44

1M ago38:44

38:44

Ned Kelly is a murdering, bank-robbing, Australian folk hero. What is the true history of this mythic figure? And how did an outlaw - or bushranger - rise up to become a symbol for a new nation? Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling are joined by Dr Meg Foster, research fellow at the University of Technology, Sydney and award winning author of Boundary…

1
Cruising & Cottaging: Sex in Public Places 39:23

2M ago39:23

39:23

With privacy being a modern luxury, where did people in the past go to meet and hook up? Public toilets were (and can still be) a popular option. But what were secret signals? And what were the risks? Especially if, like many of the people who did it, you were part of the gay community. Joining Kate today is Dr. Jeff Meek, lecturer in economic and …

1
Who was Jack the Ripper? The Prince (Suspect 1) 37:11

2M ago37:11

37:11

Part 1/4. By investigating the men accused of being Jack the Ripper, we uncover dark truths about Victorian society - and our own. Why were these men, most of them almost certainly innocent, singled out as monsters? Today Anthony Delaney tells Maddy Pelling about how Prince Albert Victor, grandson to Queen Victoria, became suspected of being Jack t…

1
Ancient Goddesses: Rebellion, Magic & Sexual Liberation 44:41

2M ago44:41

44:41

Struggling for role models in the modern world? We've got your back, looking way back to the ancient world. Join Kate and Jasmine Elmer, author of her new book, Goddess With A Thousand Faces, as they explore the remarkable stories of some of histories most incredible ancient Goddesses and the lessons we can learn from them. What can Artemis the Gre…

1
Lost Colony of Roanoke: Mystery of England's First American Settlers 40:32

2M ago40:32

40:32

The colonists of Roanoke Island in the 1580's were the very first English people to try to establish a permanent settlement in America. They completely disappeared. The only clue was the word 'CROATOAN' carved into a tree where they had been. What happened? Maddy Pelling and Anthony Delaney are joined today by Misha Ewen, author of The Virginia Ven…

1
Pagan Ritual Nudity 38:29

2M ago38:29

38:29

Rituals are a big part of this funny human experience, aren't they? Whether that's morning rituals like making your bed... or pagan rituals that involve stripping down to your birthday suit for certain ceremonies. The importance of nakedness is a big part of it, too, that can help separate you from this world and bring you closer to nature, and oth…

1
Myth of the Minotaur: Half Man Half Bull 35:55

2M ago35:55

35:55

The myth of the Minotaur has endured thousands of years for good reason... it's hard to forget! Today, Maddy Pelling tells Anthony Delaney the story of King Minos of Crete, the monster in his maze, and the son of Athens that comes to kill it, thanks largely to the cunning of Princess Ariadne. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produced by Charlotte Long. Enj…

1
What The Ancient Greeks Got Wrong About The Female Body 46:47

2M ago46:47

46:47

Why did the Ancient Greeks depict a womb as an octopus in their textbooks? Their writings and (mis)understandings of the female body might seem borderline comical now, but how did these beliefs on the physical indicators of womanhood still impact us today? Joining Kate is Helen King, author of Immaculate Forms: A History of the Female Body in Four …

1
The Black Death: The Deadliest Plague 48:37

2M ago48:37

48:37

It was beyond Biblical in its horror. Around half of all Europeans are estimated to have died in the Black Death. Death ravaged towns and villages, castles and hovels. What did it feel like to live through this darkest of histories? Bestselling author Helen Carr guides Anthony Delaney and Maddy Pelling through disease, death and self-flagellation! …

1
Could You Survive Victorian Surgery? 43:56

2M ago43:56

43:56

What was it really like inside a Victorian operating theatre? Did people really smoke cigars and eat oysters while they watched high risk surgery taking place? And what were the most common procedures? In today's episode Kate joins Dr. Monica in the Old Operating Theatre in London, to find out about the sights, smells and screams you would have hea…

1
Macabre Death of Edgar Allan Poe 35:21

2M ago35:21

35:21

Edgar Allan Poe was a poster boy for the macabre whose work thrilled readers throughout America and beyond. How did he end up in a gutter in Baltimore, delirious, and wearing clothes that were not his own? Maddy Pelling takes Anthony Delaney through the mysterious death of a mysterious man. Written by Maddy Pelling. Edited by Tomos Delargy. Produce…

1
Medieval Life During Plague & War 40:42

2M ago40:42

40:42

When so much of history is written by men, Margaret Paston's letters offer us a rare insight into the life of a woman and the world around her in 15th century England. How did she cope with waves of plague wiping out her town? What did she do when the War of the Roses reached her home? And what family gossip did she write about? Joining Kate today …

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Witches Betwixt Podcasts

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