A Vicious Seed
Episode 72 of the Enchanted: The History of Magic & Witchcraft podcast, hosted by Corinne Wieben, titled "A Vicious Seed" was published on March 6, 2026 and runs 24 minutes.
March 6, 2026 ·24m · Enchanted: The History of Magic & Witchcraft
Summary
In the sixteenth century, witch trials were a fact of life. Women were being hauled before courts across Europe. Confessions were extracted under torture. Executions followed. Into this world stepped Johann Weyer, who looked at all of it—the confessions, the trials, the executions—and said that these women are sick, not sinful. They are patients, not criminals. And the men putting them on trial ought to know better. This episode brings you a story of religious belief and scientific inquiry at...
Episode Description
In the sixteenth century, witch trials were a fact of life. Women were being hauled before courts across Europe. Confessions were extracted under torture. Executions followed. Into this world stepped Johann Weyer, who looked at all of it—the confessions, the trials, the executions—and said that these women are sick, not sinful. They are patients, not criminals. And the men putting them on trial ought to know better. This episode brings you a story of religious belief and scientific inquiry at the dawn of the modern era, the story of Johann Weyer.
Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet.
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