

The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall
CBC
In the 1980s and 90s, Satan and his followers were accused of brainwashing children, sacrificing babies, and infiltrating North American society on a massive scale — yet these thousands of alleged Satanists were nowhere to be found. Even so, the narrative became embedded in our cultural memory, warping everything it touched — including the lives of innocent people.. And it never quite died out.In a new 8-part series, Sarah Marshall (You’re Wrong About) explores the tangled web of the Satanic Panic, in a journey that will take you everywhere from Victoria, B.C. to rural Kentucky to San Antonio, Texas. This is a show about the people who experienced the Satanic Panic in real-time — the believers, the skeptics, the bystanders, and the wrongfully-convicted. What was it like to be a psychologist told to look for Satanists in every case; a mother slowly recovering memories of supposed Satanic abuse; a teenager accused of conspiracy to murder? The stories of these eyewitnesses point us toward the real underlying problems — individual and societal — that the Panic was a response to. The fault, as ever, was not with Satanists, but in ourselves.
Episodes
Mentioned books

8 snips
Oct 27, 2025 • 44min
Episode 2: Marylyn Remembers
Marilyn Harris, the former wife of psychiatrist Lawrence Pazder, shares her harrowing experience with the fallout from the Michelle Remembers case, revealing how it strained her family and marriage. Cheryl Proby Ostman, sister of Michelle Smith, offers a unique perspective on their childhood and critiques the book's portrayal of their lives. Both provide deep insights into the personal and societal chaos caused by the book, shedding light on the emotional toll and moral panic that ensued. Their stories highlight the stark difference between familial memories and the sensational narrative that captivated a nation.

11 snips
Oct 20, 2025 • 39min
Episode 1: Did Swayze Start the Fire?
Patrick Balch shares his memories of the 1988 filming of Next of Kin in Kentucky, revealing how innocuous events like costume purchases were misinterpreted as satanic signs. Sociologist Mary DeYoung discusses the societal dynamics behind the 1980s moral panic, explaining how professionals inadvertently spread fears of satanic abuse. They explore how media frenzy fueled wild rumors, including a photographer's terrifying escape from a town gripped by hysteria, illustrating the era’s paranoia about children and safety.

Oct 7, 2025 • 3min
Introducing The Devil You Know with Sarah Marshall
In this new 8-part series, host Sarah Marshall (You’re Wrong About) takes a closer look at the people who experienced the Satanic Panic in real-time—the believers, the skeptics, the bystanders, and the wrongfully-convicted.


