Ending Witch Hunts: Podcasthon 2025 Edition
03/15/25 • 29 min
Join us each day March 15-21 as we participate in Podcasthon 2025, where more than 1,500 podcasters unite to amplify causes close to their hearts. We're proud to participate with our nonprofit End Witch Hunts, which is working to educate about persecution of alleged witches worldwide. When you think of the Salem Witch Trials, it might seem like ancient history—an open-and-shut case from a bygone era. But as Sarah reveals, "The witch hunting story is bigger than just Salem. Pull back each layer and you find that witch hunts aren't a tall tale or an opened and shut case." One minute you think you know the truth. The next, you realize you don't know the half of it.
Throughout this special week-long series, we'll explore how witch hunts transcend ancient historic documents and continue happening today. In this installment We examine literal witch hunts—where fear of witchcraft drives accusations of supernatural harm—featuring insights from Economist Boris Gershman on global witchcraft beliefs and the path toward ending these dangerous persecutions. Tune in daily as we uncover this complex story layer by layer. Learn more at podcasthon.org and discover how you can help at www.endwitchhunts.org.
Donate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund
Boris Gershman Witch Hunt Podcast Episode
Witchcraft Beliefs Around the World: An Exploratory Analysis
Join us each day March 15-21 as we participate in Podcasthon 2025, where more than 1,500 podcasters unite to amplify causes close to their hearts. We're proud to participate with our nonprofit End Witch Hunts, which is working to educate about persecution of alleged witches worldwide. When you think of the Salem Witch Trials, it might seem like ancient history—an open-and-shut case from a bygone era. But as Sarah reveals, "The witch hunting story is bigger than just Salem. Pull back each layer and you find that witch hunts aren't a tall tale or an opened and shut case." One minute you think you know the truth. The next, you realize you don't know the half of it.
Throughout this special week-long series, we'll explore how witch hunts transcend ancient historic documents and continue happening today. In this installment We examine literal witch hunts—where fear of witchcraft drives accusations of supernatural harm—featuring insights from Economist Boris Gershman on global witchcraft beliefs and the path toward ending these dangerous persecutions. Tune in daily as we uncover this complex story layer by layer. Learn more at podcasthon.org and discover how you can help at www.endwitchhunts.org.
Donate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund
Boris Gershman Witch Hunt Podcast Episode
Witchcraft Beliefs Around the World: An Exploratory Analysis
Previous Episode
Victoria Canning: Criminology Perspectives on Witchcraft Persecution, Violence, and Torture
In this episode, Professor Victoria Canning from Lancaster University discusses the overlooked intersection of criminology and witchcraft persecution. Through the lens of "zemiology"—the study of social harm—Canning examines how witchcraft accusations create profound physical, psychological, and cultural damage.Central to our conversation is her concept of "torturous violence," which expands definitions of torture beyond state actions to include sustained community violence with similar traumatic effects. This framework helps explain how witchcraft accusations function as mechanisms of social control, particularly against women.Canning advocates for an "activist criminology" that uses evidence to drive social change and helps practitioners identify and respond to witchcraft-related persecution.Join us for this informative conversation bridging criminology and witchcraft studies to address these overlooked forms of violence.
Research and Publications by Victoria Canning
International Conference on Albinism at Lancaster University, September 2025
Donate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund
Maryland House Joint Resolution 2
Next Episode
Ending Witch Hunts in Africa: Podcasthon Edition
Welcome back to our Podcathon series, "Ending Witch Hunts."
In this second installment, Josh and Sarah continue the full story of witch hunting by examining contemporary witch hunts across Africa. As Sarah reveals, "The witch hunting story is bigger than just what most people know. Pull back each layer and you find that witch hunts aren't a tall tale or an open-and-shut case."
We will cover several nations across Africa and how advocates in specific communities are supporting victims and educating the community. On this second day of Podcathon, we feature a special update from human rights activist Dr. Leo Igwe of Advocacy for Alleged Witches in Nigeria.
Podcathon is a global movement to spread awareness about charities. Join us each day March 15-21 as we participate in Podcathon 2025, where more than 1,500 podcasters unite to amplify causes close to their hearts. We're proud to participate with our nonprofit End Witch Hunts, which works to educate about persecution of alleged witches worldwide.
Tune in daily as we uncover this complex story layer by layer. Learn more at podcasthon.org and discover how you can help at www.endwitchhunts.org.Witch Hunt podcast
Donate to Witch Hunt Podcast Conference Fund
Boris Gershman Witch Hunt Podcast Episode
Witchcraft Beliefs Around the World: An Exploratory Analysis
The International Alliance to End Witch Hunts
Advocacy for Alleged Witches, Nigeria
Alhzeimer Dementia Namibia on Facebook
Total Life Enhancement Center, Ghana
The Sanneh Institute: Research, Religious, Society
Advocacy Against Witch Hunts, South Africa
Sierra Leone Association of Persons with Albinism
Sierra Leone Association of Persons with Albinism Facebook Page
The Source of the Nile Union of Persons with Albinism (SNUPA)
Case Study, Synergies: Contagion of Positive Action
Stop Child Witchcraft Accusations
Pan African Parliament Guidelines on Accusations of Witchcraft and Ritual Attacks
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