Remembering What Never Happened

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Mar 11, 2025

Dive into the chilling landscape of fear and false memories, examining the sensational tales of 'Jay's Journal' and 'Michelle Remembers'. Explore how Sigmund Freud's concepts laid the groundwork for a century of psychological uncertainty. Discover the notorious McMartin Preschool case and its catastrophic consequences fueled by panic and unverified tales. The podcast raises crucial questions about the real victims in these narratives and the morality of those who profit from fear. Uncover the intertwined complexities of trauma, memory, and societal horror.

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ANECDOTE

Jay's Journal Origins

Beatrice Sparks, author of "Go Ask Alice," received Alden Barrett's journals from his mother after his suicide.
Sparks turned them into "Jay's Journal," a cautionary tale about drugs and the occult, adding fictional satanic elements.

INSIGHT

Sparks' Justification

Rick Emerson, author of "Unmask Alice," highlights Sparks' justification for fabricating stories.
She claimed her actions served a greater good, helping young people and families navigate difficult issues.

ANECDOTE

Anna O and Repressed Memory

Bertha Pappenheim, known as Anna O, suffered from hysteria and was treated by Joseph Breuer, a colleague of Sigmund Freud.
Breuer's hypnosis and questioning led to the theory of repressed memory, influencing psychoanalysis.

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In today’s episode, we’re exploring how fear and false memories motivated us to believe stories that were horrific yet too compelling to check. It started with Jay’s Journal, where Beatrice Sparks transformed teenage angst into a cautionary tale of demonic possession. Then, Michelle Remembers, the book that introduced the idea that buried trauma could be unlocked through recovered memory therapy—if only you had the right guide.

But the idea that memories—especially traumatic ones—could be buried and later uncovered wasn’t new. In the late 19th century, Sigmund Freud’s patient, known as Fräulein Anna O., became the foundation for his theories on female hysteria, repression, and recovered memory. Her case set the stage for a century of psychological experiments that blurred the line between therapy and suggestion.

And then came McMartin Preschool. In 1983, a single accusation spiraled into the most expensive criminal trial in US history. With no physical evidence, only the increasingly elaborate claims of children, the nation still believed in secret tunnels and Satanic abuse.

So who were the real victims? The children, coached into giving adults the stories they wanted? The daycare workers, whose lives were destroyed? The terrified parents who surely only wanted justice for their children? Or the storytellers—Beatrice Sparks, Lawrence Pazder—who sold fear as truth, convincing the world that the Devil was lurking behind every door?

Resources:

Rick Emerson, Unmask Alice
Hannah Anderson, author
Satan Wants You, Prime Video

Devil and the Deep Blue Sea is a production of Christianity Today

Hosted and written by Mike Cosper

Produced by Rebekah Sebastian, with production assistance by Dawn Adams

Sound Design and Mix Engineer: TJ Hester

Sound Design, Animation, and Video: Steve Scheidler

Graphic Design: Nim Ben Reuven

Music by Dirt Poor Robins

Erik Petrik and Mike Cosper are the executive producers of CT Media Podcasts, and Matt Stevens is our senior producer.

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