#Sarah Leland

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

A small Kansas town is reeling after a baby-faced 23-year-old manipulated procedural technicalities to reinstall himself as mayor in one night, seemingly taking a page from the playbook used by former President Donald Trump after he was voted out of office.

Only, this time, it worked.

“People have said this reminds them of Germany in 1935,” Jeffery Jones, whose bid for a council seat in Goddard, Kansas, collapsed last week as Hunter Larkin abruptly took control, told The Daily Beast. “Like, ‘Hey, we don’t like you anymore and we’re gonna vote you out and put our own person in.’”

The convoluted machinations by which Larkin maneuvered his way back into power were described as “essentially, a coup” and reminiscent of a totalitarian regime, according to one recently departed council member. And while Goddard, a Wichita suburb with a population of just under 5,400, isn’t necessarily going to influence policy shifts on a national scale, the strategy used by Larkin—a right-winger who last year promoted an appearance in Goddard by accused sex pest and conservative kingmaker Matt Schlapp—could serve as a stark warning of what’s possible elsewhere.

“I have to hand it to Larkin,” Wichita Eagle columnist Dion Lefler wrote. “I’ve covered cities for a long time and have seldom seen a political takeover that was this sleazy, and yet this well-orchestrated.”

Larkin’s improbable ascent to office can be traced back to August 2020, when the then-mayor of Goddard stepped down amid a fraud charge for counterfeiting tickets to the local zoo’s “Zoobilee” charity fundraiser. Then-21-year-old City Council President Hunter Larkin was appointed to the job.

In November 2021, Larkin, who by day works as an accounting manager for a fiberglass oil field pipe manufacturer owned by a wealthy local family that has helped fund his political aspirations, was busted for DUI. He later pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of probation and staying on as mayor until May 2022, when he resigned in the wake of a news report calling his ethics into question. Larkin said he was leaving office to focus on a statehouse run, but kept a seat on the city council.

“This campaign is about giving a voice to the people of our community and defending what so many of us hold dear, like voter integrity, the right to bear arms, protecting the unborn and keeping Critical Race Theory (CRT) out of schools,” Larkin’s campaign website thundered. “As your next Representative, I can promise that I will fight for just that!”

Vice-Mayor Larry Zimmerman was then appointed Goddard’s mayor, and has filled the position since—until last Tuesday night.

The agenda for that evening’s city council meeting didn’t appear particularly unique, at least on the surface; members would, among other things, consider a sign regulation amendment, discuss a road closure request for a Lions Club car show, and appoint a new city councilperson after a councilman named Michael Proctor relinquished his seat on Dec. 31.

Zimmerman nominated Jeffery Jones, who works as a hospice chaplain, for Proctor’s old job.

However, the vote ended in a tie. So Zimmerman instead nominated Aubrey Collins, a radio host and residential solar panel salesman who goes by “Cowboy Rip.” Collins’ candidacy was approved, and he was sworn in.

And, according to Jones, “That’s when everything kind of went haywire.”

As Collins was being seated, Larkin, who lost his bid for the Kansas legislature, immediately moved to amend the agenda and hold a non-public executive session to discuss “unelected personnel.” According to Lefler, the newspaper columnist, Larkin was eager to cast out City Administrator Brian Silcott, who has been critical of him in the past.

At this point, Jones left, thinking the meeting was over.

“Had I known what would happen next, I would have stayed,” he told The Daily Beast. “Because when they came back, that’s when Hunter asked for the election of a new mayor.”

When they returned, Larkin swiftly proposed removing Zimmerman as mayor, a motion which was approved by all except Zimmerman himself. Vice-Mayor Sarah Leland was then installed as mayor of Goddard—briefly. She immediately addressed the others, saying she felt she did not have “the capability to do these job duties… especially the current situation we are dealing with, so I would like to nominate Hunter, as I feel he can complete the steps that need taking.”

And with that, Larkin became mayor, switching seats with Leland, now his second-in-command. Larkin quickly moved to oust Silcott, who he considered a fly in the ointment, prompting now-ex-Mayor Zimmerman to quit his city council seat in protest.

“Before you get to that point, I’d like to tender my resignation from the city council, effective immediately,” he said, and walked out.

The council then filled Zimmerman’s empty council seat with resident Keaton Fish, a support staffer at a local special-ed school. As he took his position, Larkin introduced a motion to terminate Silcott’s employment. They then went to a second closed session to discuss Silcott’s firing, where the decision was consummated. (The next day, Assistant City Administrator Thatcher Moddie resigned.)

“The day and age where unelected bureaucrats ran this town is over,” Larkin later exulted. “This governing body is going to be more involved than ever before.”

This, Jones argued on Friday, is wholly disingenuous.

“Hunter said ‘we’re tired of being run by unelected bureaucrats,’ but I’m like, ‘Well, you’re kind of unelected.’ He was elected as a council member, no one voted him in as mayor [either time]. And right now, there’s a petition out for a recall.”

The recall campaign was started by Proctor, the councilman who quit office on Dec. 31. He called the situation in Goddard “a disaster.”

“He needs to go,” Proctor told The Daily Beast of Larkin, adding that he was baffled by the vice-mayor’s support for his mayoralty.

He said he will need roughly 168 signatures to move the proposal forward, and feels confident he’ll get them.

“Look, there’s complete outrage over this,” he told The Daily Beast. “Getting those votes won’t be difficult, there are plenty of willing participants.”

Proctor has also started a Facebook group called “For Goddard’s Sake,” where he is organizing and rallying support.

“This city is a joke!” one commenter wrote. “in who’s right mind is DUI kid a good choice for mayor after not being re-elected.”

“[H]unter has made it clear that he intends to turn the city into a rental community by helping his developer buddies build as many multi family dwellings as possible,” wrote another. “This is a very clear pattern all in the name of ‘growth’ and it is going to fundamentally change this town. He and his gang now make a majority and will be able to approve whatever Hunter’s little heart desires.”

“So where can concerned citizens file complaints?” wrote a third. “Surely we have a lawyer or three within reach who can help Goddard with its latest problem. Anyone?”

Proctor said he will be filing a report with the sheriff’s office, alleging campaign finance improprieties by Larkin which Proctor claims violate the Goddard city code.

“Somebody’s gotta do it,” he said. “Somebody’s gotta stand up. Otherwise, there’s a vacuum that’s going to be filled by somebody who shouldn’t be doing it.”

Replacing Silcott will also be a heavy lift, according to Proctor, who said Goddard last week “went from a city where up-and-coming city managers would love to come and work, to a bottom-of-the-rung situation, overnight. He’s delivered quite a mess.”

Fish did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Zimmerman, for his part, told local outlet KWCH that Larkin’s maneuvering “wasn’t right.”

Brady Burdge, an assistant district attorney in Wichita who was in the running for a council seat but withdrew his name on Monday due to his heavy workload, said he found the Larkin situation “really unfortunate.”

“It is definitely troubling,” Burge told The Daily Beast. “The local level is where it all starts, and you definitely don’t like to see things like that happening in your own community… [Larkin] has had trouble in the past building trust with our community, and it looks like it happened again.”

Jones said he is not planning to fight the outcome of the election, and is “just going to let the chips fall where they may.” At the same time, he isn’t going anywhere, anytime soon.

“I feel honored that the mayor at the time selected me, but I’m not going to raise a fuss,” he conceded on Friday. “I told them at that meeting that I want to effect change within Goddard, and if I can't do it from the [city] council, I’ll do it from the community. And I’m going to be there at as many council meetings as I can, where I’ll be bringing up questions that the people want answered.”

For his part, Aubrey Collins said he is looking forward to his first experience serving in public office.

“I have no comment other than, we’re going to do the best we can for the city,” Collins told The Daily Beast. “I believe the steps that were taken will allow Goddard to win. Goddard is gonna win, based on what transpired.”

Before the council session concluded, Larkin remarked, “Today was a tough day. I know. Wasn’t fun, I don’t think anybody here enjoyed it. But I want you all to know it was done out of love.”

Larkin, who told local NBC affiliate KSN TV that he’s not concerned about any challenges to remove him, did not respond to multiple requests for comment by The Daily Beast.

[birchblood]

Twin Peaks / Jean Baudrillard

[verrixstudios]

Story time with Mamma (Treasure Planet X Wings of Fire)

This is before Jim’s dad doesn’t come back

Sarah: Oh your father. Wings so dark he can disappear into the night without a trace! A captain who flies with the stars themselves.

Jim: Just like mine, Mamma!!

This is me straying a bit from story and into imagination but I imagine his father being a Nightwing captain, who often goes on journeys and comes back every once in a while to his Skywing wife and their hybrid child. Sarah tells happy stories of Leland to keep Jim’s spirits up between trips.

[chainsawyers]

thank y’all very much for all the art requests — keep em comin!! u can request as much as u want and i’ll get to it when i can (pog) here’s a leland warmup!!

[renposter]

Cut scene from Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, released in The Missing Pieces

this makes me so sad

[pinkeoni]

Chrissy Cunningham & Laura Palmer Parallels

I’ve made a post before about some of the narrative parallels between Laura and Will, but there are actually a lot more obvious parallels in the show between Laura and Chrissy, which only further prove my theory that Twin Peaks had to be inspiration for the show, whether a conscious choice or not.

Laura and Chrissy are both dead in the first episode.

Of course, Laura is dead before the episode starts, and Chrissy dies just before the episode ends.

This also gives Laura and Chrissy similar narrative functions; they both effectively act as the inciting incident that kicks off both of their respective stories.

Laura is the homecoming queen, while Chrissy is known as the “Queen of Hawkins High.”

Both Laura and Chrissy have secrets; Laura is a drug addict and a prostitute, and Chrissy similarly had a life that her boyfriend didn’t know about.

Both become involved with drugs; Laura is addicted to cocaine and Chrissy was going to try ketamine with Eddie before being killed.

Both are dating jocks; Laura is dating football quarterback Bobby Briggs and Chrissy is dating basketball captain Jason.

Both had abusive parents; Chrissy had an abusive mom and Laura had an abusive dad.

Both are being haunted by evil entities. Laura is being haunted by BOB why Chrissy is haunted by Vecna. These entities are what ends up killing both of them.

Subsequently, both are trapped inside of a red space. For Chrissy it’s Vecna’s red mind lair and for Laura its the Red Room.

Another interesting point— Chrissy’s mom, who looks suspiciously like Laura’s mother Sarah, is named Laura. (This is confirmed inside of Chrissy’s school file) thanks to @bylrndgm for pointing out this detail!

Smaller parallels:

Shots of them walking into the forest (for Chrissy ep 4x01, for Laura in FWWM)

Both become involved with a boy much different from their boyfriends; ie Eddie Munson and James Hurley

[sherylleescreams]

Rewatching her scenes and… somehow Grace Zabriskie gives Sarah Palmer such intense “wish I had a son” resentful daughter mom vibes. Like Sarah’s jealous of Laura. And she’s afraid for her. And she’s uneasy. She blames Laura for what Sarah subconsciously (or consciously?) knows of Leland’s sexual abuse of Laura because to blame Laura moves the blame further away from Sarah (who chose to marry, have a kid with, and stay with Leland). She is already mourning Laura. How she boils that down is she wishes she had a son. She never says it but you can see it. Her distance from Laura. Her tense little spats with her over smoking or trivialities are the most they interact. It’s a studied distance. Sarah is always tense around her eyes and even moreso when she’s anywhere near Laura, who in turn has written off her mother as something like Leland’s talking furniture.

It’s insane.

[the-delta-42]

Foster

[First] [Previous] [Next]

Foster

Rebecca glared at Bonnie.

“No.”

“Please,” Begged Bonnie, “It’ll just be for a couple of months.”

“The answer’s still no.”

“Every other family I’ve asked has refused.”

“Then send her back to the orphanage or school or wherever she crawled from.”

“They’ve refused as well.”

“I don’t see why we can’t.” Said Alvin, making Rebecca look at him.

“I can list three very good reasons.” Snapped Rebecca, “One, this baby is due any day now, two, she stole from us and three, she’s a literal psychopath!”

Alvin and Bonnie stared at Rebecca.

“Becs, please, she’s just a little girl.” Pleaded Alvin, as Bonnie nervously looked behind her.

“Send her back to Carver, I don’t care, she’s not staying here!”

“She put Bill in the hospital.” Said Bonnie, after a moment of silence.

Rebecca and Alvin broke their staring match and stared at Bonnie.

“Can we ask how?” Asked Alvin, as Bonnie cleared her throat.

“She, er, tried to steal his truck.”

Rebecca leaned over and looked around Alvin, the subject of the argument was sitting outside playing with a cigarette lighter. Clementine had been fostered by them before, until she stole their car. Both of them had been briefed on Clementine’s life before them, how her parents abandoned her, how her first set of foster parents were murdered in front of her. The second set returned her, probably due to her behaviour, she’d routinely run away from subsequent families, which was why she stole the car. Rebecca hadn’t kept up with Clementine after she left, hoping to never see her again. Clementine looked up and glared at the three adults, Rebecca glaring back at her.

Rebecca huffed, before straightening up and looking at Bonnie, “Fine, but if she puts a single toe out of line, she’s out on her ass.”

Bonnie smiled, before heading outside, “Clem, great news, they’ve agreed to take you.”

“Yay.” Muttered Clementine, grabbing her backpack.

“You need to be on your best behaviour, if this is going to become permanent.” Said Bonnie, guiding Clementine into the house.

“It won’t.”

“Here we are, Clem, you remember Alvin and Rebecca, right?” Said Bonnie, trying to coax Clementine forwards.

“When’s the baby due?” Asked Clementine, looking at Rebecca.

“Any day now.” Answered Alvin, smiling down at Clementine.

“I’ll be gone by then.”

Alvin’s smile faltered, glancing at Rebecca.

“You can sleep in the spare room.” Said Rebecca, turning around and walking away.

“Yay.”

F

“I’m just saying, she’s had a rough life.” Said Alvin, as he and Rebecca got into bed.

“That doesn’t excuse her stealing from us or attacking other people.” Argued Rebecca, sitting down.

“It was Carver.”

“That’s beside the point.”

“I’m not advocating violence against anyone, but no one’s tried to get Clem’s side of the story.” Defended Alvin.

“Because she keeps trying to attack them!”

Alvin huffed, “I’m going to contact Bonnie in the morning and ask for Clem’s casefile.”

“And what, read it to her?” Scoffed Rebecca, “She’s made it perfectly clear that she doesn’t want to stay or even attempt to fit in!”

“It might help provide some context to her behaviour, Bec,” Said Alvin, lying down, “so we can understand her better.”

Rebecca sighed, “Fine, do what you want.”

Alvin winced, he didn’t think Clementine was a bad girl, she just needed some love and care. Unfortunately, he couldn’t seem to get Rebecca to see that.

‘How difficult could getting a casefile be, anyway.’

The following morning, he found the answer to be very difficult.

“It’s nothing personal, but I’m not allowed to see it.” Apologised Bonnie, as Alvin pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I’m only requesting a copy, just so Becca and I know how much, or little has changed.” Groused Alvin, as Bonnie apologetically looked at him.

“I can’t help you, Alvin, I’m sorry,” Bonnie continued apologising, “but, as I said, I’m not allowed to see it, you might get more luck from Tavia or Joan, those two are the only one’s that I know have seen it.”

Alvin grumbled under his breath, “Fine, can I have their phone numbers or emails or whatever the hell they use.”

F

Clementine awkwardly sat across from Sarah, as Rebecca talked with some of the other parents.

Sarah tried not to move, despite Clementine’s less than friendly face. She slowly pushed a book towards Clementine, making the girl slowly look down at it.

“What the hell is this?” Asked Clementine, her voice flat.

“The Guurgles, it’s about trans-dimensional body snatchers.” Explained Sarah, making Clementine raise an eyebrow.

“What’s that mean?”

“What does what mean?” Asked Sarah, cocking her head.

“Trans-dimensial body snatchers.”

“Dimensional.” Corrected Sarah, getting a scowl from Clementine, “It means they come from another dimension.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s another universe type of thing.” Answered Sarah, getting a frown from Clementine.

“Sounds weird.”

Rebecca glanced over at Sarah and Clementine; she wasn’t sure if the two should be interacting with each other.

“Isn’t that the girl that was caught up in that cannibal incident in Georgia?” Asked one parent, making Rebecca freeze.

“No, that’s Sarah,” Replied another, “You know, Carlos’s daughter.”

“No, the one with the hat.”

“Oh, shit, I think it is.”

“Wasn’t she locked in a room with a corpse?”

“How the hell would anyone know that?”

“I’ve seen her file.”

“She has a file?”

“Yeah, you could make a show out of it, people are saying she’s bad luck. I’m inclined to agree with them.”

“Should you really be telling us this?”

“Who’s going to do anything? Look at her, she’s practically homeless.”

Rebecca chose that moment to get up and walk over to Clementine and Sarah, “Sarah, your dad asked if I could pick you up.”

Sarah froze, before looking up at Rebecca, “Can Clementine come with us?”

“She has to, she’s staying with Alvin and I for a few days.” Replied Rebecca, getting a wide smile from Sarah, before the girl grabbed Clementine’s hand and practically dragged her towards the car.

The panicked look on Clementine’s face was almost funny, if the over-heard conversation wasn’t rattling around Rebecca’s mind.

F

“I’m sorry, but I’m afraid we can’t give you access to Miss Marsh’s file.” Said Joan, frowning at Alvin.

“Why not?”

“She’s part of a delicate situation, there are issues that can only be discussed with her parents or legal guardians.” Joan looked down at Alvin.

“She’s staying with my wife and I, and you’re saying I’m not allowed to see her file, which I’ve seen before, because I’m not her ‘legal guardian’?” Asked Alvin, leaning forwards.

“That’s correct.” Answered Joan, “So, unless you and your wife are seriously considering adopting Miss Marsh, you can’t see it.”

“But I’ve seen it before!”

“Before some concerning incidents, things have changed.”

“What possibly could have changed?!” Demanded Alvin, his patience running short.

“I’m not a liberty to say.”

Alvin glared at her, before getting to his feet and leaving the office. Something wasn’t right about this.

F

“I just don’t get it, we’ve seen Clem’s file before, what could’ve changed that?” Grumbled Alvin, as Rebecca put her feet up on a chair.

“Al, I heard something while at the school.” Said Rebecca, carefully adjusting herself in her seat, “Something about Clementine.”

“She talked to someone?” Asked Alvin, surprised.

“No, a parent was talking about her.” Rebecca took a deep breath, “Al, they said something about cannibals and Clementine being locked in a room with a corpse.”

“Jesus.” Muttered Alvin, “That might explain some things.”

“Are you talking about Larry?” Asked Clementine, making the two adults jump.

“Sweet mother fuck.” Swore Alvin, getting a raised eyebrow from Clementine.

“Is it true?” Asked Rebecca, twisting so she could see Clementine.

“Yes.”

Alvin and Rebecca stared at Clementine and how casually she confirmed it.

“Do, do you want to talk about it?” Asked Alvin, starting to approach Clementine.

“No.”

Alvin stopped; Clementine looked up at him.

“Sarah wants your phone number.” Said Clementine, getting a frown from Alvin and Rebecca.

“Why?” Asked Rebecca, Carlos already had their phone number.

“I don’t know, she just asked for the phone number.” Shrugged Clementine, as the penny dropped from Alvin and Rebecca.

“No, Clem, I think Sarah wants your phone number.” Sighed Alvin, getting a confused look from Clementine.

“I don’t have one.”

Rebecca and Alvin stared at Clementine, “You… don’t have a cell phone?”

“I had a walkie-talkie.” Said Clementine, cracking her neck and getting a shudder from Rebecca.

“Please don’t do that.” Said Rebecca, making Clementine frown.

“Do what?”

The two adults both sighed, before giving Clementine the phone number. They watched Clementine disappear into the other room, re-joining Sarah.

“We’ll speak with this Joan character tomorrow.” Said Rebecca, as she adjusted herself in her seat, “Clementine’s going to be at school, so it might be worth both of us going.”

Alvin hummed.

F

Clementine stuck close to Sarah, seeing as she didn’t know anyone else. She was lucky to be in the same classes as her, although she didn’t like how some of the other students acted around her. She seriously disliked Becca, a girl in the same year.

She spent most of a lesson calling Sarah ‘cry-baby’ and ‘weirdo’, Sarah just kept trying to ignore her. Until Becca called her a retard. Then Clementine had crossed the room and was busy slamming her fists into Becca’s face. The fight, if it could be called that, was short, ending with a teaching assistant picking Clementine up and hauling her off of Becca, who now sported a black eye, split lip and a broken nose. The teaching assistant sported a bite mark on his hand.

The next few minutes were spent getting an explanation from Clementine and Becca, before they spoke to Sarah. Which led to the three of them sitting outside the principal’s office, waiting for their parents and/or guardians to show up.

F

Alvin shifted as Rebecca stared at Joan, trying to reign in her temper, “Please, tell us why we can’t see Clementine’s file?”

“Miss Marsh’s file has been restricted due to a series of circumstances that could lead to a situation becoming… delicate. There are some people who, if hearing about said circumstances, would turned Miss Marsh away without even meeting her.” Explained Joan, “It’s difficult enough finding people willing to take in an older child, if they saw the contents of her file, finding a home for her would be impossible.”

“Well,” Started Rebecca, “it seems someone has seen her file, because I over-heard a parent at her school say she was caught up in a cannibal ‘incident’ in Georgia.”

Joan froze, before pinching the bridge of her nose, “I’m going to kill that man.”

Rebecca and Alvin frowned, before Joan picked up the phone on her desk, “Shel, could you please tell Leland to come to my office?”

Joan was quiet for a second, before responding to Shel, “Thank you.”

Joan sighed, before looking at Alvin and Rebecca, “Thank you for informing me of that security breach. However, as I told you yesterday, Mr. Brooke, you cannot see Miss Marsh’s file unless you are a blood relative or are seriously considering on adopting her.”

Rebecca and Alvin shared a look, before Alvin’s phone started ringing. Alvin winced, “Sorry, I should’ve turned this off.”

“It’s fine.” Said Joan, leaning back in her chair.

“Hello?” Alvin answered the phone, “It is? Wait, she’s what? R-right, we’ll be right over.”

Alvin hung up and looked at Rebecca, “Clementine’s gotten into a fight.”

Rebecca groaned.

F

Becca did her best not shrink under Clementine’s glare. Sarah was sitting next to her, nervously looking between Clementine, Becca and the Principal’s office door. The school nurse had checked Becca’s face and Clementine’s knuckles, throwing a disapproving look at the latter.

Becca looked away from Clementine when she heard a door open. Shel and a black couple came in, followed by Sarah’s dad. Shel caught sight of Sarah and sighed, before freezing at the sight of Becca.

“What the hell happened?!” Demanded Shel, making the principal come out of his office.

“There’s been an incident.” Said Mr. Crawford, gesturing for them all to enter his office, “As well as something we all need to discuss.”

The large group followed him, Clementine lazily ambling in, looking disinterested with the whole situation. Carlos noticed this and frowned, while Alvin and Rebecca sighed through their noses. Crawford sat at his desk and looked over the group. His eyes settled on Clementine and frowned.

“Miss Marsh, for someone who in at risk of being expelled, you may want to take this seriously.” Said Crawford, making everyone look at Clementine.

“It’s a new record.” Shrugged Clementine, crossing her arms.

Crawford frowned, before glancing at Clementine’s file on his computer. Rebecca felt her temper start to rise.

“Miss Marsh, need I remind you that attacking a fellow student is assault, which will be dealt with by the police.” Crawford glared at Clementine, who glared back at him.

“So?”

“So, you better have a very good excuse at hand to explain yourself!” Snapped Crawford, getting to his feet and leaning on his desk.

“She was bullying Sarah.” Shrugged Clementine, her face set as neutral as possible.

Everyone looked Clementine, before looking at Becca.

“Miss Ramirez, is this true?” Asked Crawford, looking at Sarah.

Sarah nervously looked at Becca, before quickly nodding, “She, uh, she called me names.”

Crawford then focused on Clementine, “Miss Marsh, that is no reason to attack someone.”

“She called Sarah a retard.” Snapped Clementine, getting a flinch from Sarah, “I just showed what it’s like to be on the receiving end.”

Everyone stared at Clementine, before Shel grabbed Becca’s shoulder, “Becca, is this true?”

Becca mumbled and shrugged her shoulders. Clementine scowled and glared at her.

“She is.” Muttered Becca, “She’s a fucking retard.”

Thinking in the spur of the moment, and not wanting Clementine to get in too much trouble, Sarah flung her arm out and punched Becca in her other eyes.

“MISS RAMIREZ!” Snapped Crawford, while Carlos looked down at her.

“Sarah!”

“Nice punch.” Commented Clementine, as Becca cradled her face.

Crawford sighed, “All three of you are suspended until the end of the week, when you get back all of you will be serving detention for the rest of the term. You’re all dismissed.”

Everyone stared at Crawford, before Clementine shrugged.

“Okay.” She got to her feet and started to walk out of the room.

“Mr and Mrs Brooke,” Said Crawford, looking at them, “I seriously suggest you get that girl under control.”

Alvin and Rebecca glanced at each other, before following after Clementine. The other four following behind them silently.

“Clementine.” Said Rebecca, catching up with Clementine, “You can’t just attack people because they were insulting a friend.”

“The teachers weren’t doing anything.” Stated Clementine, not looking at Rebecca.

Alvin followed behind them, unlocking the car, allowing them to get into it.

“What if you get expelled? Or arrested?” Asked Rebecca, twisting in her seat to look at Clementine.

“It won’t matter.” Scoffed Clementine, folding her arms over her chest.

“And why’s that?” Demanded Rebecca, as Alvin drove them home.

“I’m not going to be here after next week, so there’s hardly any reason to try and talk it out.” Shrugged Clementine, looking out the car window.

“Why won’t you be here next week, Clem?” Asked Alvin, glancing at Clementine sing the rear-view mirror.

“One the baby’s here, you’re just going to have me sent back into care.”

Alvin paused, before pulling over onto the side of the road and turning to face Clementine, “What makes you think that?”

Rebecca frowned and looked at Clementine, who was now picking at her jeans.

“It’s what everyone does.” Shrugged Clementine, “They say they’re going to take care of you or adopt you, but as soon as they have a baby of their own, you’re just thrown back into care.”

Rebecca sighed, before getting out of the car and getting into the back. She sat herself next to Clementine, before carefully pulling the girls towards her. Clementine stiffened, unsure what to do.

“Clem, have you been acting out, because you think no one wants you?” Asked Alvin, as Clementine felt her throat grow tight. She focused on a patch on her jeans.

She felt her eyes burn, before she turned her face into Rebecca’s shoulder. Then the dam broke.

“It’s what they did, it’s what everyone does.” Cried Clementine, her voice cracking and her breath coming out in gasps between sobs, “They keep leaving saying they want me and then get rid of me!”

Rebecca and Alvin shared a look, as Clementine continued to sob on Rebecca’s shoulder.

“It’s always the same, m-mom a-and d-dad. L-lee a-a-and C-carley. C-christa a-a-and O-omid. E-e-everyo-one!” Sobbed Clementine, instinctively grasping Rebecca.

Rebecca tightened her grip on Clem, gently rubbing her back and caressing the base of her skull. She silently gestured for Alvin to start driving again. Rebecca gently comforting the broken child in their care. By the time they got home, Clementine had fallen asleep, with Alvin having to carry her into the home. He carefully placed her in the bed in the room she was staying in, put the covers over her and went to join Rebecca.

“We need to talk about Clem.” Said Alvin, as soon as he sat down.

“She’s staying.” Said Rebecca, her tone flat, “We’re not going to put her through that, not again.”

Alvin and Rebecca stared at each other in silence. Alvin reached out a held Rebecca’s hand.

F

Clementine’s leg bounced as she sat across from Rebecca and Alvin. They’d asked to speak with her when she woke up this morning, probably about her outburst the previous day. They were probably going to say they were sending her back.

“We’ve talked to Bonnie about extending out fostering period with you.” Said Alvin, making Clementine freeze.

“W-what?” asked Clementine, looking up at them.

“Your outburst yesterday cleared up a few things,” Said Rebecca, “We felt that it’d be best if you stayed with us, even if you want to leave after a few months.”

Clementine continued to stare up at them, her eyes started to burn, before she lunged at them. Alvin and Rebecca were almost knocked over by the eleven-year-old as she tried to hug them both.

“Thank you.” Whispered Clementine, “Thank you.”

Alvin and Rebecca slowly hugged her in return, both hoping everything would turn out alright.

F

Clementine swung her legs as she sat in the hospital waiting room. Alvin was pacing around, while Rebecca screamed.

“Is, is she supposed to make that noise?” Asked Clementine, looking up at Alvin.

“Childbirth is a very painful thing, Clem.” Sighed Alvin, looking at her, “If anything goes wrong, the doctors will tell us.”

Clementine looked down at the floor, Alvin frown, sitting down next to her, “How are you holding up?”

“I, I know you said you wouldn’t, b-but now you and Rebecca are going to have a baby…” Clementine trailed off.

“And you’ll have a brother or sister.” Responded Alvin, “And they’ll have a big sister to look up to.”

“B-but w-what if you and Rebecca find you only want the baby-” Alvin cut Clementine off by wrapping his arm around her and pulling her into his side.

“Becs and I aren’t going to get rid of you,” Chided Alvin, softly, “we meant what we said, nothing’s going to change that.”

They were interrupted when a nurse came out to them.

“You should be able to go in, now.” Said the nurse, before Alvin gently guided Clementine into the room. Rebecca was slumped against the bed, sweat shining on her forehead and overall looking exhausted.

“Hey, Bec.” Murmured Alvin, pressing a kiss to her temple, “How is she?”

“He’s fine, Al.” Whispered Rebecca, carefully adjusting the whimpering baby, “Eight and a half pounds or fine.”

“He kind of looks like Alvin.” Muttered Clementine, getting the two to look at her, before she tilted her head and squinted her eyes, “But if I do this, he also looks like a potato.”

Rebecca laughed, before Clementine held her little finger under the baby’s nose, “What are you doing, Clem?”

“I thought babies were supposed to cry.” Answered Clementine, as the adults realised, she was checking to see if the baby was still breathing.

“Not always.” Reassured Rebecca, adjusting the baby, “Sometimes, they’re quiet.”

As soon as Rebecca said that the baby started crying and Clementine retracted her hand at an almost comical speed. Rebecca started hushing him, while Alvin looked at Clementine. The eleven-year-old looked panicked at the sound of the baby crying.

“It’s fine, babies are supposed to cry.” Reassured Alvin, before looking down at the baby.

“W-what if AJ’s hungry?” Asked Clementine, making both Alvin and Rebecca freeze.

“What did you say?” Asked Rebecca, looking at Clementine.

“I-I mean it’s j-just a suggestion, i-if you don’t have one already picked out.” Muttered Clementine, as Rebecca slowly turned and looked at Alvin in disbelief.

“Did you seriously suggest to our daughter that we call the baby ‘AJ’?!”

“No!”

Clementine stood frozen, staring at the pair.

“What does it stand for?” Asked Rebecca, looking at Clementine.

The parents stared at the child, who looked like she was going to burst into tears. Rebecca stiffened, realising what she’d just Clementine. Just as she was about to apologise, Clementine spoke.

“It, it’s short for Alvin Junior,” Stuttered Clementine, hastily rubbing her eyes, “I-I had a friend who was named after his dad, but we all called him Duck.”

Alvin and Rebecca looked down at the grumpy looking baby, now Clementine had explained it to them, all they feel they could name him was Alvin Junior.

“Do you want to hold him?” Asked Rebecca, looking back at Clementine.

“W-what if I drop him?” Asked Clementine, nervously inching forwards.

“Come up to the bed.” Suggested Rebecca, inviting Clementine over to them.

Quickly showing Clementine how to hold a baby, Rebecca placed AJ in Clem’s arms and watched the two interact. AJ waved his tiny arms up at Clementine, who started to hush him when he started to get fussy. Alvin took a picture of the pair when Clementine poked her tongue out at AJ, getting a delighted giggle from him.

Alvin and Rebecca smiled at their children, the two oblivious to their parents watching them.

[sarahhxwkins]

Headcanon time!

Sarahs parents disapproved of her relationship with Leland. She was only still a teenager, young and naive chasing after romance. Sarah of course didn't listen to her parents and stayed with Leland, however when she got pregnant with Jim and told her parents it was more her father who scolded her. Sarah got into a huge arguement with him which resulted in her leaving home.

Sarah was seventeen when she had Jim, so her parents only met Jim once when he was born. Her mother was more resonable than her father, but Sarah became distant from her parents not long after that.

The reason why Leland and Sarah fell apart is because they were young. Leland was not ready for a family. Jim had been unexpected. She was seventeen, Leland was nineteen. He couldn't handle the responsability of raising a child but Sarah she was determined to show she would be the best mother ever.

[thetwinpeaksblog]

Under the fan inside the Palmer House seen in the "Twin Peaks" pilot and "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me."

[cooperlaura]

Twin Peaks should have had more characters with mother issues.

[gamgeexmas]

[chainsawyers]

Plz plz plz more Leleand and Julie being just the most iconic besties that they are ‼️‼️‼️‼️

u can kinda interpret this platonically or as juland so i hope that’s ok!! sorry for the quickness of the doodles;; lots of hw but didn’t wanna keep u waiting!! mwah!!

[reppyy]

Please conder subscribing to my youtube channel :D

[pinkeoni]

“I held a mirror up to them.”

This is a line that Vecna speaks in regard to his parents, and I find the use and repetition of mirrors in his speech to be pretty striking.

Mirrors have been used symbollically to represent a characters inner self in tv and film many times before, but it did remind me of its specific usage in Twin Peaks

Spoilers for Twin Peaks and FWWM below the cut, as well as a trigger warning for SA and child abuse

Basically, mirrors are used in the shows second season to reveal the identity of BOB, or Laura’s killer, who turns out to be her father Leland.

This actually happens a few times, there’s a similar shot of Leland in a different mirror and the mirror is used once again when Agent Cooper is possessed by BOB at the end of season 2.

In FWWM we get a striking shot of Laura’s mother Sarah along with Leland in front of a mirror.

In both FWWM and the show, Sarah is aware of some kind of sinister presence in her home and receives visions of BOB and the pale horse (an omen of death in the series) however Sarah doesn’t fully realize what this sinister presence actually is. She sees Leland in the mirror, but she does not see all of Leland for who he truly is. She lived with the evil in her own home and failed to see who it actually was. (Part of this is because Leland would drug Sarah at night while he abused Laura)

Sarah receives visions of BOB after Laura's death, but even then she is not able to put it together that Leland is BOB until after Leland is taken into custody and eventually dies.

tagging: @bylrndgm

[breelandwalker]

PODCAST RECS - Debunking and Fact-Checking for Witches & Witchcraft Spaces

A collection of podcast episodes fact-checking, debunking, or just providing some clarity on modern myths, misinformation, and conspiracy theories that are frequent flyers in witchcraft and pagan spaces, both theories mistakenly touted by community members and some of the utter drivel spouted by non-witches that still affects us today. Check out these shows on your favorite podcast app!

(Updates to be made whenever I find new content. There will be some crossover with my Witches In History Podcast Recs post and some of the content will be heavy. Blanket trigger warning for violence, abuse, bigotry, sexism, antisemitism, and mistreatment of women, queer people, and children.)

[Last Updated: July 09, 2024]

This post is broken into three basic sections:

Historical Misinformation

Modern Myths and the People Who Create Them

Conspiracy Theories and Moral Panics

List of Cited Podcasts, in alphabetical order

American Hysteria

BS-Free Witchcraft

Dig: A History Podcast

Hex Positive

Historical Blindness

History Uncovered

Occultae Veritatis

Our Curious Past

Our Fake History

Ridiculous History

Stuff You Missed In History Class

The History of Witchcraft

Unobscured

You’re Wrong About…

Historical Misinformation

General History of Witchcraft

Historical Blindness - A Rediscovery of Witches, Pt 1 & 2 Oct 13, 2020 & Oct. 27, 2020 A discussion of the early modern witch craze and the myths, misconceptions, and theories about witches spread by academics. Topics of discussion include the works of Margaret Murray and Charles Leland, the founding of Wicca, the emergence of the midwife-witch myth, and folk healers as targets of witchcraft accusations. Sarah Handley-Cousins of “Dig: A History Podcast” supplies guest material for both episodes.

Hex Positive, Ep. 36 - Margaret Effing Murray with Trae Dorn July 1, 2023 Margaret Murray was a celebrated author, historian, folklorist, Egyptologist, archaeologist, anthropologist, first-wave feminist, and the first woman to be appointed to the position of lecturer in archaeology in the UK. So why so we get so annoyed whenever her name is mentioned in conversations about witchcraft? Well, it all has to do with a book Margaret wrote back in 1921...which just so happened to go on to have a profound influence on the roots of the modern witchcraft movement.

Nerd & Tie senpai and host of BS-Free Witchcraft Trae Dorn joins Bree NicGarran in the virtual studio to discuss the thoroughly-discredited witch-cult hypothesis, Murray's various writings and accomplishments, and why modern paganism might not have caught on so strongly without her.

BS-Free Witchcraft, Ep 03: The History of Wicca October 06, 2018 On this episode, Trae digs deep into the history of Wicca, and tries to give the most accurate history of the religion as they can. I mean, yeah, we know this is a general Witchcraft podcast, but Wicca is the most widely practiced form of Witchcraft in the US, UK, Canada and Australia… so how it got started is kind of important for the modern Witchcraft movement. (And trust me, there aren’t any pulled punches here.)

BS-Free Witchcraft, Ep. 28: The Burning Times May 30, 2020 On this installment of the podcast, we tackle probably one of the more controversial topics in the modern witchcraft movement: The Burning Times. What were the actual “Burning Times,” where do we get that phrase from, and what really happened? Also, how has this phrase been used in modern witchcraft? It’s a heavy one, folks.

Dig: A History Podcast - Both Man and Witch: Uncovering the Invisible History of Male Witches Sept 13, 2020 Since at least the 1970s, academic histories of witches and witchcraft have enjoyed a rare level of visibility in popular culture. Feminist, literary, and historical scholarship about witches has shaped popular culture to such a degree that the discipline has become more about unlearning everything we thought we knew about witches. Though historians have continued to investigate and re-interpret witch history, the general public remains fixated on the compelling, feminist narrative of the vulnerable women hanged and burned at the stake for upsetting the patriarchy. While this part of the story can be true, especially in certain contexts, it’s only part of the story, and frankly, not even the most interesting part. Today, we tackle male witches in early modern Eurasia and North America!

Dig: A History Podcast - Doctor, Healer, Midwife, Witch: How the the Women’s Health Movement Created the Myth of the Midwife-Witch Sept 6, 2020 In 1973, two professors active in the women’s health movement wrote a pamphlet for women to read in the consciousness-raising reading groups. The pamphlet, inspired by Our Bodies, Ourselves, looked to history to explain how women had been marginalized in their own healthcare. Women used to be an important part of the medical profession as midwives, they argued — but the midwives were forced out of practice because they were so often considered witches and persecuted by the patriarchy in the form of the Catholic Church. The idea that midwives were regularly accused of witchcraft seemed so obvious that it quickly became taken as fact. There was only one problem: it wasn’t true. In this episode, we follow the convoluted origin story of the myth of the midwife-witch.

Dig: A History Podcast - Cheesecloth, Spiritualism, and State Secrets: Helen Duncan’s Famous Witchcraft Trial July 3, 2022 Helen Duncan was charged under the 1735 Witchcraft Act, but her case was no eighteenth-century sensation: she was arrested, charged, and ultimately imprisoned in 1944. Of course, in 1944, Britain was at war, fighting fascism by day on the continent and hiding in air raid shelters by night at home. The spectacle of a Spiritualist medium on trial for witchcraft seemed out of place. What possessed the Home Secretary to allow this trial to make headlines all across the UK in 1944? That’s what we’re here to find out.

The Conspirators, Ep. 63 - The Last Witch Trial Nov. 26, 2017 England’s official laws regarding the prosecution of witches dates back to the 1600s. Those very same laws would also remain on the books until well into the 20th century. In 1944, a psychic medium named Helen Duncan would gain notoriety by becoming the last woman to be tried under England’s witchcraft laws.

The History of Witchcraft Podcast, hosted by Samuel Hume Witches didn’t exist, and yet thousands of people were executed for the crime of witchcraft. Why? The belief in magic and witchcraft has existed in every recorded human culture; this podcast looks at how people explained the inexplicable, turned random acts of nature into conscious acts of mortal or supernatural beings, and how desperate communities took revenge against the suspected perpetrators.

Unobscured, Season One - The Salem Witch Trials Welcome to Salem, Massachusetts. It’s 1692. And all hell is about to break loose.

Unobscured is a deep-dive history podcast from the labs of How Stuff Works, featuring the writing and narrative talents of Aaron Mahnke, horror novelist and the mind behind Lore and Cabinet of Curiosities.

As with his other series, Mahnke approaches the events in Salem armed with a mountain of research. Interviews with prominent historians add depth and documentation to each episode. And it’s not just the trials you’ll learn about; it’s the stories of the people, places, attitudes, and conflicts that led to the deaths of more than twenty innocent people.

Each week, a new aspect of the story is explored, gradually weaving events and personalities together in chronological order to create a perspective of the trials that is both expansive and intimate. From Bridget Bishop to Cotton Mather, from Andover to Salem Town, Mahkne digs deep to uncover the truth behind the most notorious witch trials in American history.

Think you know the story of Salem? Think again.

Witchcraft and Other Magical Practices

BS-Free Witchcraft, Ep. 43 - “Lilith” Jan. 29, 2022 Host Trae Dorn discusses the ongoing debate over whether or not it’s okay for non-Jewish witches to incorporate Lilith into their practices. Is Lilith closed? Is it cultural appropriation? There’s so much misinformation in New Age and poorly written witchcraft books on Lilith, it’s hard for some witches to get a clear picture. It’s common to run into folks on social media talking about Lilith as a “Goddess,” which she very much isn’t. Let’s dive into the origins of the folklore surrounding this figure, and we’ll let you decide whether or not it’s okay to work with Lilith. But, uh, spoiler – we don’t think you should.

Historical Blindness, Ep. 106 - Lilith, the Phantom Maiden November 22, 2022 Host Nathaniel Lloyd explores the evolution of the figure of Lilith, from Mesopotamian demon, to the first woman created by God, and back to a succubus mother of demons. It’s a tale of syncretism, superstition, forgery, and a dubious interpretation of scriptures.

BS-Free Witchcraft, Ep. 55 - Lucky Girl Syndrome and the Law of Attraction January 28, 2023 Trae takes a look at one of New Age spirituality’s most toxic philosophies - The Law of Attraction. The history of the idea is discussed, where it came from, and how this dangerous combination of prosperity gospel, purity culture, and victim-blaming has come back in a major way to a whole new generation as “Lucky Girl Syndrome.” 

Hex Positive, Ep. 19 - The Trouble with Tarot August 1, 2021 Tarot and tarot-reading have been a part of the modern witchcraft movement since the 1960s. But where did these cards and their meanings come from? Are they secretly Ancient Egyptian mystical texts? Do they have their origins among the Romani people? Are they a sacred closed practice that should not be used by outsiders? Nope, nope, and nope.

This month, we delve into the actual history of tarot cards, discover their origins on the gaming tables of Italy and France, meet the people who developed their imagery and symbolism into the deck we know today, and debunk some of the nonsense that’s been going around lately concerning their use. The Witchstorian is putting on her research specs for this one!

Stuff You Missed in History Class - A Brief History of Tarot Cards Oct. 26, 2020 How did a card game gain a reputation for being connected to mysticism? Tarot’s history takes a significant turn in the 18th century, but much of that shift in perception is based on one author’s suppositions and theories.

Hex Positive, Ep. 23 - The Name of the Game November 1, 2021 Bree delves into the history, myths, and urban legends surrounding Ouija boards. Along the way, we’ll uncover their origins in the spiritualist movement, discover the pop culture phenomenon that labeled them portals to hell, and try to separate fact from internet fiction with regard to what these talking boards can actually do.

Our Curious Past, Ep. 20 - The Curious History of the Ouija Board August 18, 2023 Host Peter Laws explores the history of the “talking board,” which was wildly popular in the early 1900s, until something happened that would tarnish its’ reputation for good. 

Ridiculous History - Brooms and Witchcraft, Pt. 1 & 2 Oct. 13-15, 2020 Most people are familiar with the stereotypical image of a witch: a haggard, often older individual with a peaked hat, black robes, a demonic familiar and, oddly enough, a penchant for cruising around on broomsticks. But where did that last weirdly specific trop of flying on a broomstick actually come from?  Could the stereotype of witches on broomsticks actually be a drug reference? Join Ben, Noel, and Casey as they continue digging through the history and folklore of witchcraft - and how it affected pop culture in the modern day.

Historical Blindness, Ep. 116 - The Key to the Secrets of King Solomon  May 02, 2023 Host Nathaniel Lloyd continues his occasional series on the history and mythology of magic. In this installment, he looks at the development of the story that the biblical King Solomon was actually a flying-carpet-riding, magic-ring-wielding wizard and alchemist who bound demons to do his will. The origins and content of the legendary Key of Solomon are also discussed.

Dig: A History Podcast - Plastic Shamans and Spiritual Hucksters: A History of Peddling and Protecting Native American Spirituality July 24, 2022 In the late 20th century, white Americans flocked to New Age spirituality, collecting crystals, hugging trees, and finding their places in the great Medicine Wheel. Many didn’t realize - or didn’t care - that much of this spirituality was based on the spiritual faiths and practices of Native American tribes. Frustrated with what they called “spiritual hucksterism,” members of the American Indian Movement (AIM) began protesting - and have never stopped. Who were these “plastic shamans,” and how did the spiritual services they sold become so popular?

Historical Blindness, Ep. 145 - All Is Number: Pythagoras and Numerology May 28, 2024 In this installment of the ongoing Encyclopedia Grimoria series, host Nathaniel Lloyd talks about a cult leader who is remembered as a great mathematician, whose real lasting contribution to the world is the nonsensical divination "magic" known as numerology.

Holidays

Hex Positive, Ep. 28 - The Easter-Ostara Debacle April 1, 2022 Host Bree NicGarran puts on her Witchstorian hat once more to delve into the origins of both Easter  and Ostara and to finally answer the age-old question: which came first  – the bunny or the egg?

Historical Blindness, Ep. 28 - A Very Historically Blind Christmas Dec. 18, 2018 An exploration of the origins of Christmas traditions, with special guest Brian Earl of the Christmas Past podcast. (There is also some mention of Christmas witches!) Further installments of this series explore additional Christmas traditions and iconography which have been falsely claimed to have pagan origins as well as the myths surrounding the history of Christmas itself. (Eps. 47, 63, 84, & 132 in December of subsequent years)

Modern Myths and the People Who Create Them

Ed and Lorraine Warren

You’re Wrong About…Ed and Lorraine Warren w. Jamie Loftus November 8, 2021 Special Guest Jamie Loftus tells Sarah about Ed and Lorraine Warren (of The Conjuring and Annabelle fame). Topics of interest include Connecticut as a locus of scary happenings, New England uncles, and psychic communication with a tearstained Bigfoot.

Dig: A History Podcast - The Demonologist and the Clairvoyant: Ed and Lorraine Warren, Paranormal Investigation, and Exorcism in the Modern World Oct 3, 2021 In the 1970s, Lorraine and Ed Warren had a spotlight of paranormal obsession shining on them. In the last decade, their work as paranormal investigators–ghost hunters–has been the premise for a blockbuster horror franchise totaling at least seven films so far, and more planned in the near future. So… what the heck? Is this for real? Yes, friends, today we’re talking about demonology, psychic connections to the dead, and the patriarchy. Just a typical day with your historians at Dig.

History Uncovered, Ep. 92 - The Enfield Haunting That Inspired "The Conjuring 2" Oct 25, 2023 The Enfield Haunting began with a bang. Literally. From 1977 to 1979, an unassuming North London home was the site of near-constant paranormal activity, from knocking sounds and moving objects to disembodied voices and the terrifying alleged possession of one young daughter of the Hodgson family. But how much truth was there to these happenings? And since the Warrens got involved briefly and subsequently touted themselves as experts on the case (and made money from talking about it), how much of what we think we know reflects the actual events?

"Paranormal" Literature & Media

You’re Wrong About…Winter Book Club - The Amityville Horror, Pts. 1-3 Dec. 20, 2021 - Feb. 6, 2022 Sarah tells guest host Jamie Loftus about the Amityville Horror, how it’s a Christmas story, and buying murder furniture might not be such a great idea. Further highlights include Jodie the Demon Pig, poor insulation and terrible parenting as evidence of a haunting, lots and lots of sunk cost fallacy, and how the book kind of debunks itself.

You’re Wrong About… - Michelle Remembers, Pt. 1-5 March 26, 2020 - April 30, 2020 Intrepid hosts Sarah and Mike delve into one of the foundational texts of the Satanic Panic - “Michelle Remembers.” A young woman spends a year undergoing hypnosis therapy, which uncovers repressed memories of shocking and horrifying abuse at the hands of a Satanic cult. The book became a foundational text for both mental health professionals and law enforcement attempting to grapple with an alleged nationwide network of insidiously invisible child-abducting cults. The only problem is…none of what Michelle remembered ever actually happened.

You’re Wrong About…. - The Satan Seller, Pt. 1-5 June 28, 2021 - August 9, 2021 Sarah and Mike return to Camp You’re Wrong About for another Satanic Panic story hour. This time, the summer book club explores Mike Warnke’s 1972 “memoir” about joining a demonic cult, rising through the ranks of Satan’s favorite lackeys, his sudden downfall and redemption, and the California hedonism that made him do it. This is followed by a discussion of the Cornerstone Magazine exposé that brought the facts to light and thoroughly discredited Warnke’s story.

American Hysteria, Eps. 64-66 - Chick Tracts, Pts. 1-3 March 20 - April 03, 2023 In his own lifetime, Jack Chick was one of most prolific and widely-read comic artists in history. His company, Chick Tracts, published hundreds of millions of copies of pocket-sized bible comics, filled with lurid illustrations of cackling demons, wicked witches, and sinister cults, all hell-bent on corrupting any hapless mortal they could get their hands on. These tracts were meant to be left where they might be found by a sinner in need of salvation, with a scared-straight morality-play approach to Christianity that contributed in no small part to the period in the late 20th century we now call the Satanic Panic. (There’s also a follow-up two-part episode about one of Chick’s “occult experts,” who claimed to be, among other things, a real-life vampire.)

History Uncovered, Ep. 95 - Roland Doe, The Boy Who Inspired "The Exorcist" November 15, 2023 In 1949, priests performed an exorcism on a boy referred to as "Roland Doe," aka Ronald Hunkeler, in a chilling ordeal that became the real-life inspiration for William Peter Blatty's 1971 book, "The Exorcist," and the movie adaptation released in 1973. But what really happened during this alleged exorcism and was there any proof of the claims of alleged demonic paranormal activity surrounding the events?

You're Wrong About... - The Exorcist (with Marlena Williams) December 27, 2023 Marlena Williams, author of "Night Mother: A Personal and Cultural History of the Exorcist," joins host Sarah Marshall to discuss the little possession movie that changed America forever. Was the set cursed by Satan himself, or plain old 70s misogyny? What makes a country going through a cultural upheaval embrace stories about the Devil? And - the most critical question of all - do Ouija boards really cause possession?

Frightful, Bonus Episode - Is the Paranormal Like A New Religion? June 25 2024 Since the early 2000s, paranormal content has exploded in popular culture. It seems we can't get enough of ghosts (and hunting for them). What could be behind this enthusiasm for spooky things? Host Peter Laws shares a theory - that the paranormal is a clever way for us to be religious...without being religious. (This is less a debunking than a discussion of a personal hypothesis, but it deals with the pervasiveness of cultural religious themes, the influence of social media on modern mythmaking, and the sense of community surrounding paranormal belief.)

Conspiracy Theories and Moral Panics

Ancient "Mysteries"

Historical Blindness, Ep. Pyramidiocy, Eps. 146-151 June-July 2024 Host Nathaniel Lloyd delves into the great pyramids and the various myths and misconceptions surrounding them, some of which, despite vast amounts of historical evidence to the contrary, endure to this very day. Further related segments on this topic may be found on the show's Patreon, including a highly interesting July 2024 minisode regarding "Books of the Dead," which examines claims about H.P. Lovecraft's "Necronomicon" and its' supposed relation to the Egyptian Book of the Dead and the Emerald Tablet of Hermes Trismegistus.

History Uncovered, Ep. 117 - The Real History Behind the Mythic City of Atlantis June 12, 2024 First mentioned by Plato in Timaeus and Critias, the lost city of Atlantis later became a widely debated topic among historians. But is Atlantis real? (Spoiler: No. No it is not.)

Hucksters, Secret Societies, and Antisemitism

Historical Blindness, Ep. 14 - Bloody Libel December 12, 2017 An exploration of one of the most destructive myths in history - the blood libel, or the false accusation that Jews of the Middle Ages and beyond ritually murdered Christian children, a lie that host Nathaniel Lloyd traces back to its’ roots in medieval England and the murder of one Young William of Norwich.

Historical Blindness, Eps. 56-57 - The Illuminati Illuminated September 15-29, 2020 A contemplation of the modern conservative conspiracy theory of a “deep state” leads host Nathaniel Lloyd back to the dawn of the modern conspiracy theory, the Enlightenment, when the ultimate conservative conspiracy theory was born as an explanation for the French Revolution: The Illuminati!

Historical Blindness, Eps. 38-40 - Nazi Occultism, Parts 1-3 July 2-30, 2019 An exploration of the dark roots of Nazi occult philosophies, from a neo-paganism preoccupied with the Nordic Pantheon, to a folksy back-to-the-land movement that evolved into a nationalist sentiment, to an ideology of racial supremacy all tied up with contemporary myths and pseudoscience. (The host is careful to note with clarity and vehemence at the start of each episode that this series IN NO WAY approves of, promotes, or supports this ideology and Nazism is roundly condemned at every turn. It’s not an easy listen, but understanding how and why this bigotry continues to be a problem in pagan spaces and how to recognize it is very important.) TL;DR - Fuck Nazis. No tolerance for genocidal fuckwads.

DIG: A History Podcast - Werewolves, Vampires, and the Aryans of Ancient Atlantis: The Occultic Roots of the Nazi Party Oct 17, 2021 Modern movie plotlines which portray Nazi obsessions with occultism might be exaggerated for dramatic effect, but they aren't made up out of wholecloth. The NSDAP, or the National Socialist Worker's Party, was a party ideologically enabled by occultist theories about the Aryan race and vampiric Jews, on old folk tales about secret vigilante courts and nationalist werewolves, and on pseudoscientific ideas about ice moons. In this episode, the hosts explore the occult ideas, racial mythology, and 'supernatural imaginary' that helped to create the Nazi Party.

Our Fake History, Eps. 66-68: Who Was the Mother of the Occult? May-June 2018 An exploration of the life and works of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, self-described sage, medium, guru, author, and one of the founders of Theosophy.

The Satanic Panic

American Hysteria - Satanic Panic, pt 1 & 2 Dec. 10 2018 - Jan. 07, 2019 This two-part episode covers perhaps the most mystifying moral panic in US history, the 1980s and early 90s ‘Satanic Panic.’ For this episode, Chelsey covers the rise of organized Satanism beginning in the late 60s, as well as the adversarial countercultures of the hippies and the metalheads, and their apparent Satanic crimes that would be hailed as proof of their evil, as well as proof that teens, as well as children, were in serious moral peril. Satan was allegedly hypnotizing the youth with secret messages in backwards rock songs, teaching them occult magic in Saturday morning cartoons, and causing suicides through a popular role-playing games, all while helping religion blur into politics for good.

For part two, Chelsey will cover what came next, a serious investigation into an imagined network of Satanic cults ritually abusing children in daycare centers all over the country. Chelsey will try to understand this shocking decade in history, why it really happened, and the cultural issues it was really about.

BS-Free Witchcraft, Ep 10 - The Satanic Panic April 27, 2019 The Satanic Panic of the 70s, 80s, and 90s shaped the Modern Witchcraft Movement in a lot of unexpected ways. Its effects still ripple through a lot of our sources, so in this installment of the podcast we’re digging into this extremely weird part of American history. It’s a bit of a doozy, after all.

BS-Free Witchcraft - Ep. 32: A New Satanic Panic? February 27, 2021 A couple of years ago, we did an episode on the history of the Satanic Panic of the latter half of the twentieth century, but recent events have led us to ask - could it be happening again? It’s very possible that we are at the start of a new wave of satanic panic, and QAnon is just the latest symptom of a larger problem.

Occultae Veritatis, Case #014: Satanic Panic of Martensville Jan. 28, 2018 Today the hosts cover one of the various Satanic ritual abuse scandals that happened close to them. Is it full of hot air and false allegations? Yes. Yes it is. 

Occultae Veritatis, Case #097A & B: Dungeons, Dragons, and the Satanic Panic Dec. 07, 2019 - Dec. 15, 2019 Dungeons & Dragons, introduced in 1974, attracted millions of players, along with accusations by some religious figures that the game fostered demon worship and a belief in witchcraft and magic.

[Last Updated: July 09, 2024]