In a recent episode of the JK podcast, the hosts delved into the historical topic of witch persecution. This controversial and dark period in history saw countless innocent individuals accused of witchcraft and subjected to brutal trials and executions. The podcast hosts examined the reasons behind this widespread phenomenon and its impact on society. **The main idea discussed was the deeply rooted fear and suspicion that fueled the witch hunts.** The hosts emphasized how fear of the unknown, coupled with religious beliefs and superstitions, created a perfect storm for witch persecution to take hold. They cited examples of how witches were believed to have made pacts with the devil and possessed supernatural powers, creating a pervasive atmosphere of terror among the general population.
Natalie and Kaitlin Prest, co-creators of the ‘beguiling’ Sisters.
The programme is in chronological order and follows Rowling s professional history her personal life is included to show how it shaped her work and how her work changed her life. Rowling s novel The Ink Black Heart, published in 2022 under the pen name Robert Galbraith, features a character named Edie Ledwell, portrayed as the victim of a masterfully plotted, politically fueled hate campaign by social justice warriors after her popular YouTube cartoon was criticized as being racist and ableist, as well as transphobic for a bit about a hermaphrodite worm.
They cited examples of how witches were believed to have made pacts with the devil and possessed supernatural powers, creating a pervasive atmosphere of terror among the general population. Throughout the episode, the hosts brought attention to the devastating consequences of witch persecution. They highlighted the tragic loss of innocent lives and the destruction of families and communities.
The week in audio: The Witch Trials of JK Rowling; Dear Daughter; Sisters – review
The Witch Trials of JK Rowling is a strange podcast. Rowling’s careful, crisp mind contrasts with host Megan Phelps-Roper’s mushy Christian desire to be as kind and evenhanded as possible. That’s not to say that the podcast isn’t interesting – it is – just that it’s uneven and reeeally streeetched out. It needs a far tougher editor.
A bit of background. Phelps-Roper is known for being brought up in, and then leaving, the virulently homophobic Westboro Baptist church, her fundamentalist views changed by Twitter (I know!). Landing Rowling as an interviewee is a huge coup for Phelps-Roper, as Rowling is private, and we understand why when, in episode one, she recounts how her ex-husband tried to break into her home. We should also note that The Witch Trials comes from a production company started by Bari Weiss, a journalist who fell out with the New York Times over her provocative “anti-woke” stance on cancel culture. Because of this, and given the title, we assume that the podcast exists because Rowling has been disowned by many – some of her fans and others – for her views on women’s and trans people’s rights and how they can conflict. Perhaps we will get to this subject; however, it appears, only once Phelps-Roper has gone through every single US cultural permutation of the past 20 years.
The programme is in chronological order and follows Rowling’s professional history (her personal life is included to show how it shaped her work and how her work changed her life). The longueurs occur because we are also given the context in which her work was published. By work, of course, we mean Harry Potter, or Hairy Podder, as every American insists on calling it. There are a lot on this show. The second episode spends what seems like days on 1990s US Christian evangelists and their mad belief that the Harry Potter books truly promote witchcraft to children, that kids might “drink unicorn blood”. It’s hard to maintain interest throughout this lunacy.
Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Ken Bruce and Vernon Kay
The third episode, out last week, about the rise of internet message boards and their overspill into the mainstream, was much better. The two examined are Tumblr (essentially sweet and lefty) and 4chan (like a racist, Columbine-loving Andrew Tate). Tumblr gave many young people the space to define their own gender queer identities. And 4chan allowed its members to rail against societal norms in a different manner, paving the way for self-promoting feminist-baiters such as Milo Yiannopoulos.
This is Jon Ronson-style stuff, though Phelps-Roper is less sharp, journalistically. Really what The Witch Trials highlights is what happens to both artist and fans when a creation balloons into something unmanageable. Harry Potter – and via Harry, Rowling – became so popular that everyone, even those who with no stake in the game, decided on an opinion and all subtleties were lost. Rowling, as she says, may have hoped that the books’ message that humans are flawed, complicated, a mixture of good and bad, is what would resonate. But – and she sees this – that’s not what’s happened. Harry and Rowling became too famous for that. Now they’re seen as entirely good or utterly bad. There are four episodes to go.
Namulanta Kombo presents the award-winning Dear Daughter. BBC
A far cosier female-centred listen is Dear Daughter, winner of podcast of the year at last year’s British Podcast awards. The first episode of the second series came out last week as a podcast on BBC Sounds and will be a World Service programme starting on 11 March. Hosted by the positive, optimistic Namulanta Kombo, mother to a young boy and girl, it’s a sweet show that believes the relationship between mothers and daughters is special. Although last week, we heard from Marian, a journalist from Estonia, who had a distant relationship with her father and is very grateful for her husband’s much closer bond with their daughter. Both Marian and Kombo’s girls are still young: you wonder, a little, about teenage issues, also how the programme would differ if they had more than one daughter. This week, she will be interviewing writer Isabel Allende, not a woman to pull punches.
Here’s a show about more than one daughter: Sisters, from Kaitlin Prest, who is revered among podcast-lovers, especially North American women. Her podcast The Heart, a collection of different series, is beautifully made, intense and personal; she negotiates and understands the world via her own body and life. So it’s interesting that she is co-creating this beguiling, intriguing podcast with her younger sister, Natalie. Using recordings that Prest has made of her family over several years, the first three episodes cover Kaitlin and Natalie’s childhood, how Kaitlin was dismissive of Natalie, how Natalie thought her big sister was amazing and how they became close as adults. Now they are working together, and despite Natalie’s efforts to be her own person, everything still feels dominated by Kaitlin. Is there space for Natalie here? God, families are complicated…
Natalie and Kaitlin Prest, co-creators of the ‘beguiling’ Sisters.
Can we say the words Vernon Kay without the Radio 2 “family” falling apart? Now Ken Bruce has left (his last stint was on Friday), the mid-morning show will pass to Kay in a few weeks. He is a safe pair of hands, though perhaps a little blokey (despite its long love affair with the straight white male presenter, since Chris Evans left in 2018, Radio 2 has been almost entirely un-blokey). Safer still are the hands of the unacknowledged Gary Davies, there to smooth things over in between Bruce and Kay, to ensure that the world still keeps turning and the family still functions.
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**A key point made was the gender bias inherent in witch trials, with a majority of the accused being women.** The hosts shed light on how this was due to societal norms and the scapegoating of women who didn't conform to traditional roles and expectations. The podcast also addressed the role of authorities, such as the witch hunters and judges, in perpetuating this mass hysteria. The hosts criticized the lack of evidence-based trials and the use of torture to extract confessions, leading to a cycle of accusations and convictions. **They noted how the witch hunts served as a way for those in power to maintain control and instill fear among the population.** The hosts concluded the episode by reflecting on the legacy of witch persecution in modern times. They discussed how this dark period of history serves as a reminder of the dangers of prejudice, fear, and the abuse of power. **The main takeaway was the importance of learning from past mistakes and promoting tolerance and justice in society.**.
Reviews for "The Untold Stories of Witch Persecution: Insights from the JK Podcast"
1. Sarah - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with this podcast episode. I was expecting a thoughtful and nuanced examination of witch persecution, but instead, it felt like the host was just spouting off their own opinions without any real research or evidence to back it up. It was clear that they had a certain agenda and were just pushing it without really exploring different perspectives. I was hoping for a more balanced and informative discussion, but unfortunately, this episode fell short.
2. Mike - 1 star - I couldn't even finish listening to this podcast episode. The host's tone was condescending and dismissive towards anyone who didn't share their views. It felt like a one-sided rant rather than a thoughtful exploration of witch persecution. I was really disappointed because I was looking forward to learning more about this topic, but instead, I just felt frustrated and annoyed.
3. Emily - 2 stars - I was excited to listen to this podcast episode because I find the history of witch persecution fascinating. However, I was quickly disappointed by the lack of depth and analysis in the content. It felt like the host was just regurgitating common knowledge without offering any new insights or perspectives. I also found their presentation style to be quite monotonous and boring. Overall, I was hoping for a more engaging and informative episode, but unfortunately, this one didn't deliver.
4. David - 1 star - This podcast episode was a complete waste of time. The host spent the entire time going on tangents and barely scratching the surface of the topic. It felt like they were more interested in hearing themselves talk than actually providing any meaningful information. I expected a thorough examination of witch persecution, but instead, I got a rambling and disjointed monologue. I would not recommend wasting your time on this episode.