Jan 13

Episode #242 - What Was Ponzi's Scheme? (Part I)

The name Charles Ponzi has become synonymous with financial frauds. In 1920 the formerly obscure Italian immigrant suddenly became one of the most famous men in Boston when his Securities Exchange Company started offering investors remarkable returns. Ponzi claimed that he had di ... Show More

1h 25m

Dec 30

Bonus Episode - Grisly Trophies, Evil Cowboys, and Questionable Mascots

In this Bonus Episode Sebastian takes questions about the recent series on Buffalo Bill and the Wild West Show. He unpacks Bill's influence on the cowboy hero archetype, dives into the contentious history of scalping, and learns some fun facts about Bill's legacy in Belgium. Tune ... Show More

39m 34s

Dec 16

Episode #241 - Who Invented the Wild West? (Part II)

Buffalo Bill's Wild West first started touring outdoor arenas in 1883. What started as a western themed circus soon grew in ambition. In the quest to appeal to respectable middle-class family audiences Buffalo Bill was soon promoting his show as an educational experience. The Wil ... Show More

1h 24m

Oct 2023

Episode #187- What Bewitched Salem? (Part I)

In 1692 in the town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two young girls started acting very strangely. The girls suffered from uncontrollable fits, bouts of incoherence, and odd outbursts including barking and choking sounds. A physician summoned to examine them concluded that the o ... Show More

1h 14m

Oct 2023

Episode #188- What Bewitched Salem? (Part II)

Can a psychological illness become contagious? Many experts believe that in rare cases a phenomenon known as a "mass psychogenic illness" can break out in a population. Can this strange quirk of group psychology help us understand the Salem Witch Crisis of 1692? The community had ... Show More

1h 17m

Oct 2018

SALEM Ep. 1 | "The Devil"

When two girls fell ill in January 1692, no one suspected the affliction would lead to one of the most infamous events in American history. The Puritans of Salem Village believed the Devil had attacked their community and they would stop at nothing to find the witches who were Sa ... Show More

37m 36s

Apr 2025

The Salem Witch Trials

For more than two centuries, between the late 1400s and early 1700s, a terror of witches gripped Europe. From Scotland to Spain, thousands of people were accused, tortured and executed. But as the hysteria faded in Europe, it crossed the Atlantic. In 1692, in New England, it took ... Show More

58m 58s

Oct 2012

What really happened in Salem?

In 1692, girls in Salem Village experienced fevers, pains and strange behavior. A doctor deemed the affliction supernatural, and the girls pinned the blame on several people. These accusations led to a witch hunt -- but what was really to blame? Learn more about yo ... Show More

29m 21s

Oct 2024

Inside the Witch Trials: Salem | Fear In A New World

We often think of the witch trials as something in the deep and distant past. But, as we'll hear in today's episode, the attitudes and behaviour that led to witch trials is as present today as it was then. In this third and final episode of our limited seri ... Show More

43 m

May 2025

#548 | The Salem Witch Trials

In this episode, we'll explore the eerie events of the Salem Witch Trials, a chilling tale of suspicion, fear, and injustice in 17th-century Massachusetts. Discover how a village turned against itself, leading to the execution of innocent people amidst accusations of witchcraft, ... Show More

21m 42s

Oct 2018

SALEM Ep. 2 | "Deceivers"

The crisis escalates beyond the afflictions of four girls. Numerous people in Salem Village have frightening experiences with witchcraft, and the girls name four women as the sources of the devilry. Magistrates hold the first public examinations of the accused women and the resul ... Show More

42m 45s

Jun 2024

History Daily: The First Execution of the Salem Witch Trials

June 10, 1692. Accusations of witchcraft spark hysteria in a town in Massachusetts, leading to the execution of Bridget Bishop – the first victim of the Salem Witch Trials. You can listen ad-free in the Wondery or Amazon Music app. Or fo ... Show More

16m 41s

Episode #187- What Bewitched Salem? (Par...