The Dream Satanic Panic!
Oct 31, 2025
Join journalist and podcaster Sarah Marshall as she delves into the chilling world of the 1980s satanic panic. Sarah discusses how daytime TV, like Oprah and Donahue, sensationalized these fears, shaping public perception. She explores the impact of the notoriously misleading book 'Michelle Remembers' and its role in fueling hysteria about cults. Highlighting flawed forensic practices, she reveals how children's testimonies became distorted. The conversation also links this historical panic to contemporary conspiracy theories, illustrating the ongoing relevance of these issues.
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Book That Sparked A Moral Panic
- Michelle Remembers catalyzed widespread belief in satanic abuse by being presented as nonfiction.
- Sarah Marshall shows how media and therapy together amplified those claims into public panic.
TV Fueled The Panic
- Daytime TV and sensationalist shows gave satanic panic huge reach and legitimacy.
- Marshall links Oprah, Donahue and Geraldo to the era's appetite for shocking, ratings-driving stories.
Pop Culture Primed Public Fears
- Cultural fears from films like The Exorcist and Rosemary's Baby primed publics for satanic explanations.
- Marshall links 60s–70s media and Manson-era anxieties to later moral panic dynamics.
