Witches of Scotland

Zoe & Claire speak to the endlessly fascinating Professor Marion Gibson about her new book which spans 700 years of witchcraft trials - from the trial which probably started the European witch hunt to the 21st century allegations of “witch-hunting” of Donald Trump by Stormy Daniels *may include raccoons

Zoe and Claire speak to author Stacey Thomas about her debut novel “The Revels” - all about witchcraft accusations . Stacey Thomas is a contributor to Bad Form Review. She is an alumna of the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course where she was awarded the Clare Mackintosh Scholarship for Black Writers. In 2021, she was announced as one of the three winners of HarperCollins’s inaugural Killing It Competition for Undiscovered Writers.

Zoe and Claire catch up with Leo Igwe to find out about witchcraft accusations in the present day : what are people being accused of, by whom and why? NB The Aye Write event has now already taken place - sorry to those who missed it! WARNING - Discusses violence against people accused of witchcraft

Zoe and Claire talk to the hugely knowledgeable Dr. Andrew Sneddon, historian of medicine, religion and the supernatural, especially ghosts, magic and witchcraft. Senior Lecturer in History @ Ulster University.

Zoe and Claire speak to Lorraine Murray Archivist at The Watt Institution in Greenock and at The Glasgow Academy in Kelvinbridge. She is an Art and Architectural Historian who has been researching the woman and men accused of witchcraft in Inverclyde

Zoe and Claire speak to author Anya Bergman about her story of the women killed as witches in Vardø. We talk magic, menopause, weather witches and why a Scotsman might have been to blame. Raccoons included

Zoe and Claire speak to Dr. Martha McGill about her game, developed by a team at the University of Warwick, to explore and understand the witch hunt phenomena - based on events in Haddington, Zoe & Claire consider the history of Haddington accused and one of the accusers who owned an enchanted pear. Raccoon chat included

Zoe and Claire speak to the fabulously knowledgeable Judith Langlands Scott about witch confessions in Forfar, John Kincaid’s “expert” expenses and find out where following the money trail gets you on the hunt to uncover the details of those killed as witches

Zoe and Claire talk to Anna Day, Cultural Public Programme Manager for Perth about statues in memory of women accused of witchcraft, why memorials are important and Anna shares her own family story of remembering those who died in WWII.

Zoe and Claire interview the brilliant author Jenni Fagan about her new book “Hex” : “ A witch will die here in the morning. It is the 4th of December 1591. On this, the last night of her life in a prison cell several floors below Edinburgh’s High Street, convicted witch Geillis Duncan receives a mysterious visitor – Iris, who says she comes from a future where women are still killed for who they are and what they believe.” (Birlinn Publishers)

Zoe and Claire speak to Professor Malcolm Gaskill about his study of witchcraft accusations in England - from the 17th century jjury trials to the 20th century trial of “Hellish Nell”

Zoe and Claire talk to the criminal defence lawyer - made famous by #thestaircase documentary on Netflix about american injustice - the Salem witch trials, forced confessions, pardons and why they are important and much more! also : cake references

Join Zoe & Claire speaking to Dr Jan Machielsen who studies and teaches about witchcraft accusations and trials - we ask what an apology really means and why each country builds different narratives around the witchcraft trials

Zoe and Claire speak to Dr. Louise Yeoman about her amazing work on the scottish witchcraft trials - from The Survey of Scottish Witchcraft to her discovery of Lilias Adie’s “grave” with lots more chat about Satan’s world uncovered, service magicians, John Knox and enchanted sticks

Zoe and Claire speak to Dr. Danny Buck about witch trials in the south of England - we talk about religious in fighting, rowdy Quakers and the self proclaimed Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins

Zoe and Claire go to Edinburgh for IWD2022 and listen to the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon grant an official apology to all those 4000 or so people, mostly women, who were accused of witchcraft - the first time in Scottish history that an apology had been tendered to all those who were accused

Zoe & Claire speak to Caterina Úbeda of Sapiens Magazine about their successful campaign to have the Witches of Catalonia pardoned. We also speak to Laura Graham, artist about her Exonerate Agnes event which takes place on International Women’s Day 2022 . Ravens and Raccoons also included

Zoe & Claire speak to Dr Miranda Corcoran - author of Teen Witches Witchcraft and Adolescence in American Popular Culture - about the use of the witch icon in popular culture, the rise in modern day witches, we talk about witches of our youth Tabitha, Sabrina, Endora and Buffy - we ask why do young women need witch role models?

Zoe and Claire speak to the wonderfully knowledgeable Professor Marion Gibson (@witchesetc on twitter) about confessions, dooking witches, and, when all is said and done what accusations of witchcraft are really all about. Also, cake and ravens

Zoe & Claire talk to Dr Ciaran Jones who is a historian of religion and witchcraft in early modern Scotland, and he recently completed his PhD in Scottish History at the University of Edinburgh in 2020. His thesis explored the relationship between Calvinism and witchcraft trials, and it focussed on the religious and spiritual aspects of some accused witches' confessions. Ciaran's research has been published in History Scotland magazine, the Scottish History Society, and a chapter of his thesis is due to appear in the next volume of the journal of Magic, Ritual and Witchcraft, published by the University of Pennsylvania . We also talk about his new researches on the WITCHES OF QUEENSFERRY and the work he was commissioned to do for the National Trust of Scotland

Owen Davies is a British historian who specialises in the history of magic, witchcraft, ghosts, and popular medicine. He is currently Professor in History at the University of Hertfordshire and has been described as Britain's "foremost academic expert on the history of magic. Zoe & Claire speak to him about accidental witches, conflict witches, witch bottles and myth busting witch folklore

Zoe & Claire talk to Professor Nicola Ring about her research funded by the Royal College of Nursing Foundation into the stories of Scotland’s early nurses and midwives accused of witchcraft for helping others. We also hear the stories of women accused as witches in Penicuik

Zoe and Claire talk to Matthew Bridson who is a postgraduate scholar of Heritage Studies. He recently submitted his Masters thesis on the topic of the group referred to as “The Lancashire Witches”. We talked to him about the Lancashire Witch Trials and Matthew’s work on “witch signs” . We talk about the Witches Walk in Lancashire and whether we should be thinking more about how we engage with places of historic interest to properly record what happened and make that history accessible for all.

Zoe and Claire speak to Helen Woodsford Dean and Ragnhild Ljosland, the two women who were the inspiration and driving force in getting the memorial to those killed as witches in Orkney erected - we talk witches, collecting tears, pagans, whether we can change history and reveal the secret depths of the Orkney memorial

Zoe and Claire talk to Ash William Mills on his book - The Black Book of Isobel Gowdie - we discuss what was known of her, whether she was a “wise woman” and the cauldron of cultures that made up the various folklore and spells that were used by charmers and healers

Join Zoe and Claire as they speak to Kayla Kandzorra about the bi-weekly podcast where hosts Stephanie and Kayla discuss trials and tales of witches throughout the centuries. Each episode sheds light on a new story bringing attention to the thousands of people who have been persecuted as witches

Zoe and Claire talk to author Carolyn Jess Cooke about her new book The Lighthouse Witches and her inspiration from the scottish witchcraft trials. We talk themes of trauma, loss, and justice

Zoe & Claire talk to Jennifer Wight who has researched scottish folk history (more can be found on her website The Adder’s Deb) and is part of Scottish Cunning Ways (FB) . What is the difference between cunning folk and witches? were those executed as witches pagans? Listen as Jennifer helps us separate fact from fiction!

Join Zoe & Claire as they learn from the experts as to how they research the history of those accused of witchcraft : Judith Gorman, Helen Upfield, Mary Craig, Norah Carlin and Catherine McPhee : with a reading from Elizabeth Lee’s new book Cunning Women and an exclusive performance from Heal and Harrow

Join Zoe and Claire speaking to Laura Graham, lawyer and artist. Laura’s work has been particularly informed by the Scottish Witch Trials - we discuss the patriarchy, what’s in a name, her work “Soul Murder” and the “dittays” against women accused as witches

Zoe and Claire learn more about the criminality involved in witchcraft - we hear about how a trial of an alleged witch was conducted and the sentences imposed - we talk more about quarrelsome dames and how the transgressing of “feminine norms” of the time was more likely to find someone in the dock in Scotland than being a “charmer”.

Zoe and Claire talk to performance artist Amy Kingsmill about her year long project- Light Source - finding out about the witches of England - and we discuss why the current zeitgeist seems perfect for memorialising those killed as witches. www.light-source.co.uk

Zoe & Claire speak to historian and author Mary W Craig about the 4 Proofs, Quarrelsome Dames and the woman accused of witchcraft in Mary’s forthcoming book.

Join Zoe and Claire as we talk to Emma Cowan and Norah Carlin - Norah Carlin is an historian who studied the Witch Trials, and was motivated to learn about those people killed as witches where she grew up : 20 years later Emma,  as part of her own researches and found Norah's work and was inspired to campaign -  with great success -  to have the names of those killed as witches in Corstorphine properly remembered.

Zoe and Claire speak to Associate Professor Louise Nyholm Kallestrup about the crossover (literally across the sea) with the Danish and Scottish witch trials - we name Danish women and men killed as witches and we once again discuss the need for a Scottish Museum of Witch Hunts to memorialise those caught up in the terrible miscarriages of justice and paid with their lives

Zoe and Claire talk to Laurie Goodlad - who presents “Shetland with Laurie” podcast / insta pages - she is a podcaster, tour guide, historian and museum curator who was motivated to research the Witches of Shetland - listen as she names all the people she has found in local records, and as we discuss the controversial cremains of women accused as witches which can be seen in the Scalloway Museum.

Zoe and Claire discuss Tituba of Salem in more detail and then speak to Anna BJÖRG, curator of the Musuem of Witchcraft and Sorcery in Iceland - we find out why it was men that were accused, discuss the modern folklore on elves and we ask - should our national monument be a scottish Musuem of Witchcraft Trials?

Zoe and Claire talk to Rachel Christ about the Salem Witch Trials - the accused - the “spectral evidence” used to convict - the pardons granted for all but one of those convicted- the memorial garden - and the “final pardon” - the 21st century legislature to pardon the last person convicted of witchcraft.

Zoe and Claire talk about the term witch in politics and beyond, and speak to Judith Langlands-Scott, the brilliant independent scholar who has spent years researching the stories of those accused as witches in Forfar - and we end on another cliffhanger! (And another sterling “ending”)

Zoe and Claire talk to Leo Igwe - Nigerian human rights activist and award winning humanist - about his campaign to stop witchcraft allegations in the modern day - and how he wants us all to support those who suffer from being accused of witchcraft in the modern day

Zoe and Claire talk about the positive Scottish Government response to the petition, the extraordinary decision of the National Trust for Scotland to promote a holiday let by naming the apartment after man who was involved in witchcraft trials, and speak in depth with Sonia Casas, Editor in Chief of Sapiens magazine about their campaign “they were women not witches” in part inspired by the Witches of Scotland campaign

This week Zoe and Claire talk petitions, widdershins, and hear from the inspiring Heather Upfield - writer of The 5 women of Kilwinning (about 5 women killed as witches) and campaigner to have the names and stories remembered .. find out about her great success... it may inspire you too!

IWD2021 marks a year of work on the the #womennotwitches Witches of Scotland campaign. Zoe and Claire talk to their very first guest, Sara Sheridan (EP 2) about why we need to memorialise women and why we need to remember the history of women and men who were killed as witches in Scotland.

This week Zoe and Claire talk to Hazel Meldrum about her mum, Jannette Archibald and her play “The Devil’s Mark”.Hazel and her sister Heather Ann have published her play and you can buy it at heatheranndowd.shop . We also talk about the Wall Street Journal, (?!? ) , Jeannie Dark, and another campaign to remember women killed as witches in Catalonia

Zoe and Claire speak with Andrew Tickell about what it means to have suffered a miscarriage of justice and whether we should now pardon those convicted as witches .. with a little Oscar Slater and Netflix chat thrown in for good measure!

Zoe and Claire discuss the third and final part of Doug Speirs story bringing the Lilas Adie story up to the 21st Century

This week Doug takes Zoe and Claire into the detail of Lilias Adie’s trial - and tells us the detail of her confessions and the records written clearly some time after the accusations - were they written as a cover up? Did the Minister ask for these papers when he moved parish because he knew the case was problematic and wanted to cover his tracks?

Zoe and Claire speak to Douglas Speirs about Lilias Adie - Scotland’s most famous woman who was accused of witchcraft - Who was she? What was her life like? Why was she accused of witchcraft? The first of 3 parts where we examine in detail Lilias life, death and beyond.

After months of building discussion and debate on the topic Zoe and Claire read out the public petition which is now live on the website www.parliament.scot/getting involved/petitions/witchesofscotland We also hear the poetic call for justice in the poem “In Memoriam” written by the very talented @Lenniesaurus

Zoe and Claire discuss the fate of 3 women, one of whom was alleged to have sought help to kill her former husbands ... We also speak to Rachel and Lauren from Heal & Harrow and discuss their future project to memorialise the people of Scotland killed as witches - to record both folklore and fact - and our first ever scoop as they reveal they writer who will be working on the project!

Join us as Iain Mc Sporran QC tells us about the story of Robert Burns and arguably his most famous poem, Tam o Shanter and his depiction of the dancing witches that Tam interrupts on his way home from the pub... we also talk about addressing past wrongs, and why looking at history honestly means recording the truth of the past.

Zoe and Claire name women killed as witches and consider why it is that so many of us believe that had we lived during the period of the Witchcraft Act we too would be accused of being a witch - We also talk with artist Karen Strang (www.karenstrang.co.uk ) who has been working on art inspired by the women killed as witches for decades.

This week we name those accused and executed as witches, and catch up on social media discussions including discussing the new cultural project, inspired but the campaign for a pardon and monument - we talk about the devil’s mark and why it was important for those confessing to witchcraft to renounce their baptism and we are played out by bagpipe music especially commissioned for women executed as witches in Galloway.

Zoe and Claire remember those killed as witches, talk about Mrs Mennie of Newfoundland and her inspiring letter and discuss plans for 2021......

After naming women convicted as witches Zoe and Claire (inadvertently!) talk about Angels from the Bible and we hear from Herr Hegeler in Germany where a Bishop has apologised for the role of the church in witchcraft trials and has promised to put up a plaque in memorial to those killed.

A discussion with author of Tomb with a View , Peter Ross on the the need to memorialise the dead and the work of Councillor Kate Stewart, a founding member of RAWS (Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland)

We learn about a woman tortured as a witch in Skye, of the work of Anton Praetorious a pastor who condemned the witch trials in Germany when they took place and his modern day successor Hartmut Hegeler who seeks pardons and memorials for European witches. We also hear from Alexandra Maher who is making a short film inspired by the story of Scotland’s last witch, Janet Horne and her daughter.

Paula Kehoe and Ashlene Aylward are currently co-writing and producing a tv show about the women accused of witchcraft in Ireland - we hear about these women and why there were so few accused of witchcraft in Ireland when compared with Scotland

In this episode we talk about the work of artist Caren Thompson who is doing a project which memorialises the people executed as witches in Scotland - You can see her work on insta as the Medicine Spoon Memorial, She is part of the SILVER SPOON COLLECTIVE and you can find our more about her work here website www.madeonthemoors.co.uk you can see how to get involved in the project - you can also see the work of Cali White at www.loveispower.com which provides the genesis of the project. We also name more women accused as witches and discuss Hellish Nell - the last woman - a Scot - to be convicted under the later witchcraft act in England.

Find out about the women accused as witches in the Paisley Witch Trials from the award winning screenwriter, director actor and producer Julia Campanelli. She names this women and men killed as witches and she tells us why she became so fascinated with the story. She also discusses why she believes that the history of witchcraft is linked with the transatlantic slave trade. Also find out why she may be the original Gregory’s Girl!

This week Zoe and Claire discuss women executed as witches - including 10 women executed as #witches in Dumfries, the 81 Prestonpans witches, and the extraordinary pardon granted to them by their local Burgh. We also discuss statues to women - in light of the recent controversy over the memorial to Mary Wollstonecraft - and 18th century writer and philosopher who wrote about the rights of women. How should women be memorialised? We also hear about the great work done by retired German pastor Hartmut Hegeler to get “exonerations” for German women killed as witches.

Zoe and Claire remember the names and stories of 3 women executed as witches, and speak to a 21st century witch and author Alice Tarbuck about what witchcraft means to her, and why she supports the Witches of Scotland campaign. Alice also shares with us her poem “exceptional knowledge” - the title reflecting the words at the “witches well” on the castle esplanade in Edinburgh

Zoe and Claire talk about 3 women involved in witchcraft trials - Grissell Jaffray, Jonet Drever and Mary Somerville and we hear the final instalment of our talk with Professor Goodare where he answers the question - if women and men could both be convicted of witchcraft - why were the vast majority of people accused women?

Zoe and Claire ask Professor Goodare why did Scotland have 5 times as many witchcraft trials as anywhere else in Europe? Find out why quarrels and curses became the background to the Witchcraft Act 1563, how the reformation and counter-reformation added to the search for witches and why the devil was always cold....

Professor Julian Goodare is an expert on witches -Author of The European Witch Hunt - as well as many other witch related titles - Director of the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft along with co-director Louise Yeoman - this is part 1 of our interview with him - learn with Zoe and Claire why the history of witches is thought by some to be the history of pagans; about how the modern idea of “witch” came about - what is has to do with 18th century cartoonists and why our “witch” Hallowe’en outfit could have looked very different from the broomstick, black hat and black cat construct we use today. Also hear about how many people in Scotland were affected by witchcraft compared to Europe.

Zoe and Claire learn about the trial of Euphame Maccalzean : the Cats of Gormal of Lochaber : the tricks of Helen Duncan with author Mairi Kidd . If you enjoy the episode please rate us on your app!

The book “Where are the Women” written by author Sara Sheridan was one of the inspirations for the Witches of Scotland campaign - her Sara tells us about her book and how she might like the women who were convicted of witchcraft to be memorialised

Introducing Witches of Scotland Podcast