The Public Universal Friend

from Idiot Mystic Hosted by Idiot Mystic

In October 1776, Jemima Wilkinson survived a dangerous fever and announced that Jemima had died. The person who rose from the bed called themself the Public Universal Friend and claimed to be a spirit sent by God, neither male nor female. For more than forty years, the Friend preached, gathered followers, challenged slavery and gender expectations, and helped establish a religious settlement in New York. Along the way came devoted supporters, influential women, property disputes, and hostile accounts that still shape the story. This episode of Idiot Mystic follows the Friend’s own account of what happened, the life built around it, and the limits of what history can tell us. Was the illness a divine calling, a rupture in identity, or an encounter with something we still struggle to name? Wherever you’re watching or listening, you can find more of my work by searching “Idiot Mystic” on YouTube, Spotify, or your usual podcast app. Come hang out and continue the conversation: Discord: https://discord.gg/dXKjhZrZmM Website: https://idiotmystic.com Blog: https://idiotmystic.com/blog YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@idiotmystic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/idiotmystic TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@idiotmystic If you enjoyed the episode, follow or subscribe, leave a comment or review, and send it to someone who would enjoy the conversation.

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The Public Universal Friend

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This episode was published on October 17, 2026.

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