On the face of it, TLC’s show about the Duggar family and Damien Echols, one of the infamous West Memphis Three, seem to have little in common. But what if we told you that both stories, which begin and end in Arkansas, are the perfect launching points for our new limited series on the Satanic Panic?

Welcome to Season 1 of Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, where we explore the strange and troubling era of the 1980s and ’90s when America—especially the evangelical church—became convinced that satanic ritual abuse and occult activity hid around every corner. From local news reports warning of dark rituals to churches hosting “record burnings” to purge secular music, fear of a hidden, demonic conspiracy dominated the cultural landscape.

If you grew up during this era, you might even remember being warned by Sunday school teachers to avoid Halloween because of its “satanic” roots. Maybe you were forbidden from playing Dungeons & Dragons or using an Ouija board at sleepovers because they were considered direct portals to Satan.

But beyond these odd and, at times, laughable memories lie a darker reality—with real-world consequences. False accusations, wrongful imprisonments, and abuse of power by religious and political leaders left lasting scars and a wake of destruction. The Satanic Panic is a cautionary tale about how fear and misinformation can spiral into real danger—something still relevant today, as conspiracy theories continue to shape our world in new and troubling ways.

In today’s pilot episode, we begin in Arkansas, examining two stories that seem worlds apart—the Duggar family, a symbol of conservative Christian values, and The West Memphis Three, a tragic case driven by hysteria and misinformation.

Join as we ask; How did this wave of panic devastate innocent lives and divert the church’s attention from the evil lurking in its own pews?

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.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a rating and review to help more people find the show. Thanks for listening.

Join our Facebook group for deeper conversations and behind the scenes content.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ebenezer Cobham Brewer

The AI-powered Podcast Player