The Thing About Witch Hunts

Author: Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack

The Thing About Witch Hunts is the podcast of historical witch trials and modern-day violent witchcraft persecution. From the Salem Witch Trials to the ramifications of today's harmful practices related to accusations of witchcraft and ritual attacks, Witch Hunt covers it all. Tune in today to find out why Witch Hunt is an essential podcast for everyone interested in this intriguing subject. #history #witchcraft #SalemWitchTrials #witchhunt
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Vampires, Witchcraft, and the Dangerous Dead in Folklore and Ritual: Professor John Blair
Episode 188
Tuesday, 31 March, 2026

Oxford historian Professor John Blair explores vampire beliefs, predatory corpses, and the deep connections between witchcraft and folklore in medieval and early modern Europe — and colonial New England.What do vampires, witch trials, and shroud-chewing corpses have in common? More than you might think.In this episode of The Thing About Witch Hunts, hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack sit down with Professor John Blair, Emeritus Professor of Medieval History and Archaeology at the University of Oxford and Fellow of The Queen's College, Oxford. Professor Blair is the author of the book Killing the Dead: Corpses, Vampires, and the Unquiet Dead in Medieval and Early Modern Europe — a landmark study of how premodern communities understood the body, fear, and the threat of the dangerous dead.This conversation goes deep into the history of vampire beliefs and folklore, including:The origins of the word "vampire" and the many names given to predatory corpses across culturesCorpse execution practices in medieval and early modern EuropeSleep paralysis and its role in shaping beliefs about the unquiet deadThe Malleus Maleficarum and its connections to vampire and witchcraft loreShroud-chewing, witch cakes, and vampire cakes — and what these practices reveal about community fearStriking parallels between vampire beliefs and witchcraft accusations in colonial New England, including the Salem Witch TrialsWhether you're interested in medieval folklore, the history of witchcraft, vampire mythology, early modern European history, or the Salem trials, this episode offers essential historical context for understanding how fear, the body, and the supernatural intersected in the premodern world.📖 Pick up Killing the Dead at bookshop.org/shop/endwitchhunts https://bookshop.org/a/90227/9780691224794🎥 Watch more on YouTube: youtube.com/@aboutwitchhunts🌐 Learn more about our work on historical and contemporary witchcraft accusations at endwitchhunts.orgIf this episode was valuable to you, please leave a review and share it with someone who loves history, folklore, or the early modern world. It helps others find the show and keeps this important work going.HASHTAGS: #VampireHistory #VampireFolklore #MedievalHistory #WitchcraftHistory #TheDangerousDead #SalemWitchTrials #EarlyModernEurope #Folklore #UnquietDead #MalleusM aleficarum #SleepParalysis #HistoryPodcast #WitchHunts #OxfordHistory #TheThingAboutWitchHunts #KillingTheDead #ProfJohnBlair #ColonialNewEngland #HistoricalFolklore #WitchTrials