Episode 180 - The History of The Connecticut Witch Trials

Episode 180 - The History of The Connecticut Witch Trials

Author: The Lunatics Project March 3, 2026 Duration: 1:02:58
Before Salem, there was Connecticut. In this episode of Lunatics Radio Hour, Abby Brenker sits down with historian Josh Hutchinson to explore the Connecticut Witch Trials, which spanned 1647 to 1697 and led to 11 executions decades before the events in Salem. They discuss the Puritan beliefs and English laws that shaped colonial prosecutions, the role of coerced confessions and spectral evidence, and the social instability that fueled accusations. The episode examines cases including Alse (Alice) Young, Mary Johnson, Goody Bassett, Goodwife Knapp, Katherine Harrison, and the 1662 Hartford executions. Josh also shares insights from his work with the Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project and discusses ongoing efforts to formally clear the names of those convicted. A factual look at one of early America’s lesser known chapters of legal and religious history.Sources discussed include:– Amanda Pitts, NBC CT https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/four-decades-before-salem-there-were-witch-trials-in-connecticut/3407226/– Research by Josh Hutchinson https://www.legendsofamerica.com/mary-johnson-witch/– William K. Holdsworth, The New England Quarterly– Godbeer, Escaping Salem– Brian Levack, The Witch-Hunt in Early Modern Europe– Carol Karlsen, The Devil in the Shape of a Woman– Connecticut Colony Code of 1642Other links mentioned in the episode: https://connecticutwitchtrials.org/trail/change.org/witchtrialshttps://endwitchhunts.org/Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and paperback. Music by Michaela Papa, Alan Kudan & Jordan Moser. Poster Art by Pilar Keprta @pilar.kep. Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tune into Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror for a deep and often unsettling journey into the shadows of our past. Produced by The Lunatics Project, this series operates on a compelling premise: that the history of horror and the horror of history are inextricably linked. Rather than reviewing movies, each episode digs into documented, real-world events where primal forces like fear, violence, and the struggle for survival left a permanent mark on cultures and individuals. You’ll hear about the dark historical episodes and psychological phenomena that have haunted humanity for centuries, as well as the folklore born from genuine terror. Furthermore, this podcast meticulously traces the line from these factual atrocities and anxieties to the silver screen, analyzing how our most profound real-world fears are processed, shaped, and reflected in the horror films we watch. It’s an exploration for anyone curious about where our darkest stories truly come from and how the echoes of actual events resonate in the genre’s most iconic imagery and narratives. The result is a rich, thought-provoking listen that challenges the boundary between entertainment and the unsettling truths from which it often springs.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Lunatics Radio Hour: The History of Horror
Podcast Episodes
Episode 167 - The Dark Lore Behind The Wizard of Oz: Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:10
Abby and Alex pick up where they left off last week, and talk through The Wiz and Wicked, in all of it's forms. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in…
Episode 166 - The Dark Lore Behind The Wizard of Oz: Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:54
Abby sits down with Alex to talk through all things Wizard of Oz. From L Frank Baum's books which date back to 1900, to the 1939 classic MGM film and so much more. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord.…
Lunatics Library 49 - Friday The 13th Inspired Horror Stories [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:25
This week Abby and Alan present four modern day horror stories, all in some ways inspired by or adjacent to the Friday the 13th film franchise. Belly Bees was written by Sam Logan and narrated by Kate Rotunda. Follow Sam…
Episode 165 - The History of Friday the 13th: Part Three [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:41
The saga concludes! Abby and Alan continue with their deep dive into the Friday the 13th horror franchise with the final four movies; Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X, Freddy vs Jason and the Friday the 13th reboot from 2009.…
Episode 164 - The History of Friday the 13th: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:33
Abby and Alan talk about the middle films in the Friday the 13th franchise: Part 5 through Part 8. Get Lunatics Merch here. Join the discussion on Discord. Check out Abby's book Horror Stories. Available in eBook and pap…
Episode 163 - The History of Friday the 13th: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:30
Abby and Alan sit down to discuss the history and production of the first four films in the Friday the 13th horror franchise. In part one we start with the first four films; Friday the 13th (1980), Friday the 13th Part 2…
Episode 162 - Campfire Tales #6 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:00
Abby and Alex are so thrilled to present three haunting and spooky tales. The Summoning was written by Joseph Hare, and narrated by Denali Bartell. Check out Joseph on Instagram @josephhareifyoucare and on Substack josep…
Episode 161 - Campfire Tales #5 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:20
Abby and Alex Goleman are thrilled to present three haunting horror stories. First Date was written by Carver Welsh and narrated by Abby Brenker. Follow Carver on IG @carverwelsh. A Scratching at The Door was written by…
Episode 160 - The History of Spring-Heeled Jack [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:43
Abby just couldn't get enough. This week is a true deep dive into the history of one of the most bizarre phantoms to haunt a major city. Reports and sightings of Spring-Heeled Jack were commonplace in Victorian London. J…