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
Dec 11, 2025 • 38min
A second helping from Satan: Elizabeth Knapp’s Possession
Elisabeth Ceppi, a professor and author specializing in Puritan-era culture, joins to discuss the fascinating case of Elizabeth Knapp—widely thought to be possessed in 1670s Massachusetts. Ceppi explores the unsettling fears Puritans had about serving roles, how notions of sin shaped their daily lives, and the implications of ownership and power in this context. They debate Knapp's motivations, the cultural frameworks of possession, and the interplay of gender and influence among young accusers, revealing a complex narrative of agency in a fearful society.
Dec 8, 2025 • 58min
Episode 8: Where Are We Now?
Stephen Jones, son of People’s Temple leaders, provides a harrowing first-person account of Jonestown, reflecting on the allure of Jim Jones' utopia that turned into a nightmare. Chelsea Weber-Smith discusses how moral panics from the past, like the Satanic Panic, echo in today's conspiracy culture, linking fears to societal issues. The conversation dives into the psychological appeal of conspiracies, how scapegoating distracts from real abuse, and the critical lessons on fear and control that resonate across generations.
9 snips
Dec 4, 2025 • 37min
A second helping from Satan: Satanic Injustice
Josie Duffy Rice, a provocative journalist and former president of The Appeal, delves into the dark intersection of the U.S. legal system and the Satanic Panic. She explores how societal fears distort justice, favoring punishment over rehabilitation. Josie critiques modern-day reliance on junk science and discusses how deep-rooted narratives label the accused as forever guilty. The conversation highlights the punitive nature of the child welfare system and the need for community-driven accountability, challenging sensational explanations for societal issues.
Dec 1, 2025 • 52min
Episode 7: Four Lesbians and a Baby
Anna Vasquez and Liz Ramirez, former members of the San Antonio Four, recount their harrowing journey through wrongful conviction in the 1990s. They discuss the shocking accusations of satanic abuse that turned their lives upside down. The women's sexuality was weaponized in court, and they detail the chilling impact of junk science on their trials. Their inspiring stories of resilience highlight their eventual exoneration after 22 years, revealing the ongoing fight against anti-queer panic and the importance of seeking justice.
Nov 27, 2025 • 33min
A second helping from Satan: SATANISM 101
Dr. Justin Sledge, a professor of philosophy and religion and host of the YouTube channel Esoterica, shares his unique journey from a teenager tangled in a supposed satanic plot to an academic expert on esotericism. He dives into definitions of the occult and various forms of Satanism, and explores how the concept of Satan evolved from an accuser in Hebrew scripture to a cosmic villain. Justin highlights the historical context of anti-Semitism and modern conspiracy theories like QAnon, emphasizing the importance of critical thinking in combating moral panics.
8 snips
Nov 24, 2025 • 47min
Episode 6: I’m Just a Teenage Cultist, Baby
In this discussion, Justin Sledge, an expert in Western esotericism and a key figure in the Pearl, Mississippi case, shares his harrowing experience as a teenager accused after a shocking school shooting. He reflects on the pandemonium and scapegoating that spiraled out of control, linking the violent incident to a fictitious satanic cult. Justin reveals how societal fears transformed innocent teenagers into suspects and highlights how cultural patterns, rather than true evil, often fuel moral panics and misinterpretations of youth behavior.
13 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 53min
Episode 5: The Devil in Delaney
Delaney, a woman whose life was deeply affected by childhood trauma and the satanic panic of the 1980s, shares her journey through her manuscript. Her struggle with repressed memories leads her to therapy, where she uncovers painful recollections of ritualized violence. The podcast explores the complex dynamics of memory, trauma, and societal influences during this tumultuous time. Delaney’s story reflects on the lasting impacts of her experiences and how she found purpose in community work and advocacy.
Nov 13, 2025 • 37min
A second helping from Satan: Arab Spring, Satanic Summer
Cherine Amr, founder of the Egyptian all-female metal band Massive Scar Era, shares her harrowing experiences of being accused of possession during the moral panic following the Arab Spring. She discusses how heavy metal music was viewed in Egypt, often labeled as satanic and foreign. Pasqualina Eckerström provides academic insights into the political implications of such accusations, emphasizing the gendered nature of the panic. Together, they explore music as a means of cultural expression and healing amidst oppression.
28 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 48min
Episode 4: Bad Times, Good TV
Whitney Phillips, an assistant professor at the University of Oregon and co-author of The Shadow Gospel, delves into the dark world of the Satanic Panic. She explores how 90s TV shows, like The X-Files, shaped societal fears. The conversation covers the historical roots of satanic imagery, sensational media narratives, and how cultural phenomena like The Exorcist fueled public anxiety. They also discuss the role of evangelical media and the evolution of demonology in today’s politics, revealing a continuous cycle of fear and sensationalism.
9 snips
Nov 3, 2025 • 45min
Episode 3: Moral (Panic) Entrepreneurship
Mary DeYoung, an emerita sociology professor and expert on deviance, dives deep into the McMartin case and the satanic panic of the 1980s. She discusses her shocking discoveries about the gravity of false allegations surrounding ritual abuse in preschools. Mary highlights how fear was amplified by sensational media coverage and misguided expert testimonies. She examines the suggestibility of children in interviews and reveals systemic failures in addressing real inter-family abuse. Ultimately, Mary reflects on lessons learned and the regulatory changes spurred by this chaotic period.
