Best JD Sword Podcasts (2025)

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Episode Thirty-Six: The Mysterious Death of Jeannette DePalma 30:04

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4M ago30:04

30:04

In this episode, the Satanic Skeptic investigates a cold case from 1972 involving the unexplained death of a New Jersey girl, Jeannette DePalma, and how and why her death became sensationalized in the media as a Satanic sacrifice.By Autumn Sword

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Episode Thirty-Five: Civil Blasphemy 15:53

6M ago15:53

15:53

On this episode, Autumn Sword, the Satanic Skeptic, argues that groomer accusations against LGBTQ+ people represent what author Robert D. Hicks called "civil blasphemy" and draws a direct parallel between the way such accusations are being weaponized to criminally prosecute people in the name of protecting children, and law enforcement's crusade ag…

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Episode Thirty-Four: My Existence Is Not Yours To Define 54:17

1y ago54:17

54:17

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic shines an infernal light on the controversy rocking the skeptic community- the question of whether biological sex and gender are binaries. As a scientific skeptic, and a trans woman, someone who has seen so-called critical thinkers make jokes of trans athletes, spread misinformation and pseudoscience, fan the fl…

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Episode Thirty-Three: John Ramirez, Ex-Satanist Turned Evangelist 28:37

1y ago28:37

28:37

Happy Halloween! On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic shares the spooky tale of one's man journey from "Satanic High Priest" to a born again Christian! Yeah, right. This episode is full of more tantalizing sweets than a trick-or-treat bucket, so pour yourself something nice, grab a handful of candy, and listen to how evangelical Christians continue…

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Episode Thirty-Two: Lucifer Rising; Why One Priest Believes Demonic Obsession Is On the Rise 23:10

1+ y ago23:10

23:10

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines claims from a Father Chad Ripperger that 25% of the population is diabolically obsessed and that the number is on the rise! What would have to be the case in order for this to be true, and why exactly does Fr. Ripperger think the Devil is getting stronger?…

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Episode Thirty-One: Bennett Braun, the Psychiatrist Who Fueled the Satanic Panic 23:06

1+ y ago23:06

23:06

On this episode, Satanic Skeptic JD Sword commemorates the passing of Church of Satan Magisters Henry Manning and Neil Smith while celebrating the passing of Bennett Braun, a psychiatrist whose work with Dissociative Identity Disorder and belief in Satanic Ritual Abuse conspiracies helped fuel the Satanic Panic while ruining his patient's lives.…

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Episode Thirty- The Devil on Trial 16:53

1+ y ago16:53

16:53

Netflix's latest documentary, The Devil on Trial, tells the story of David Glatzel who infamous con artists-er, I mean, demonologists- Ed and Lorraine Warren convinced the Glatzel family was possessed. When a young man named Arne Johnson convinces the demon to take him instead, the Warrens claim the evil drove Johnson to commit murder. The ensuing …

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Episode 29 - The Hanover Witch Hunt or Should Fortune Telling Be Illegal? 19:47

2y ago19:47

19:47

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic discusses laws criminalizing fortune telling and how exactly they might be unconstitutional, as well as giving his own opinions as to whether these laws really protect the public from fraud.By JD Sword

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Episode 28 - Anton LaVey, CSICOP, and Pseudoscience 17:17

2y ago17:17

17:17

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic explores Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey's history as a paranormal investigator as well as his familiarity with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry- the organization which the Satanic Skeptic writes for! Drawing on a long out-of-print essay featured in the Cloven Hoof as well as other archived Church of Sata…

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Episode 27 - Did Actors Repress Memories of Abuse by Marilyn Manson? 19:20

2+ y ago19:20

19:20

Did the actors and assistants who worked for or were in relationships with rockstar Marilyn Manson, and allege that he sexually abused them, really repress the memories of their abuse? The Satanic Skeptic discusses the history and controversy of repressed memories and proposes several alternative explanations as to what might've happened.…

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Episode 26 - Were "the Finders" a CIA-Fronted Satanic Cult? 17:02

3y ago17:02

17:02

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic reviews an FBI report into a community known as "the Finders" accused of being a CIA-fronted satanic cult involved in child abuse and ritual sacrifice. Are the rumors true? Hell no!By JD Sword

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Episode 24 - Once Again, There Is No Evidence of Satanic Ritual Abuse 19:54

3y ago19:54

19:54

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic covers a report, released last year, commissioned by the Minister of Justice for the Netherlands investigating claims of "organized sadistic abuse." The conclusion? Listen to find out!By JD Sword

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Episode 23 - The Demon Cat of D.C. 14:17

3y ago14:17

14:17

On the first episode of the new year, the Satanic Skeptic, JD Sword, examines a long-standing urban legend of a "demonic cat" said to stalk the halls of the United States Capitol building.By JD Sword

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Episode 22 - The Hampstead Hoax 27:41

3y ago27:41

27:41

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines a case of alleged Satanic Ritual Abuse that went viral after video interviews between police and children as well as a list of 175 alleged cultists, was leaked online. Ultimately, the children recanted their testimony, confessed their mother and her boyfriend had made it all up and coached them on what …

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Episode 21 - The Devil in Ohio 19:38

3y ago19:38

19:38

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines several plausible candidates for the "true events" which author and showrunner Daria Polatin may have drawn on for inspiration in writing Netflix's latest limited series, "The Devil in Ohio." We're talking a kooky occultnik, a high-profile murder, and a Keystone Cop, all bringing the mass psychogenic il…

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Episode 20 - Kookcytus, or, Where Neo Nazis and Devil Worshippers Meet 15:46

3+ y ago15:46

15:46

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic investigates a Devil worshipping Neo Nazi group calling themselves the Order of Nine Angles and their ties to the Alt-Right. While a minority among the extremist fringe, the Order of Nine Angles have been linked to several attempted terrorist attacks and actual homicides. Just how dangerous are they?…

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Episode 19 - The "Haunted" Home of Katharine Hepburn? 17:09

3+ y ago17:09

17:09

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic revisits an article he wrote for Skeptical Inquirer back in 2021, investigating a video in the tabloid, The Sun, allegedly showing a ghost manipulating a lamp in the haunted former home of both Katharine Hepburn and Boris Karloff! https://www.the-sun.com/news/1655849/poltergeist-ghost-shakes-lamp-katharine-hepbu…

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Episode 18 - To Massacre Children is Decidedly UN-Satanic 16:59

3+ y ago16:59

16:59

Incensed by an article titled "The Devil Went Down to Texas" in which Director of Content and editor-in-chief at the Foundation for Economic Education, Dan Sanchez, writes that "To Massacre Children is Literally Satanic," The Satanic Skeptic addresses the popular narrative of school shooters as "outcasts" and social rejects and argues why, in fact,…

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Episode 17 - Zombies: Science or Superstition? 35:13

3+ y ago35:13

35:13

In 1983, ethnobotanist Wade Davis published The Serpent and the Rainbow- an account of his journeying to Haiti in search of a fabled zombi powder used by Vodou bokors to induce a state of somnambulism. Davis claimed to have obtained samples of the powder, and hypothesized that one of the main ingredients was a deadly neurotoxin known as tetrodotoxi…

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Episode 16 - Are Herbal Abortions Safe and Effective? 23:27

3+ y ago23:27

23:27

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines the safety and efficacy of abortifacients- herbs taken to induce miscarriage- as well as a "Woman's DIY Guide" to herbal abortions circulating on social media. While the use and interest of abortifacients is nothing new, the recent threat of the United States Supreme Court to overturn the 1973 ruling of…

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Episode 15 - Diabolus in Musica 12:39

3+ y ago12:39

12:39

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic, JD Sword, examines the musical myth that the Catholic Church banned what's known as the tritone during the Middle Ages for being Diabolus in Musica. Is there any truth to this myth and what relationship does the tritone have to rock and heavy metal music?By JD Sword

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Episode 14 - Is Evolutionary Science Making Room for Adam and Eve? 14:16

4y ago14:16

14:16

On this mini episode, the Satanic Skeptic reviews the 2019 book, The Genealogical Adam and Eve, after reading a January 2, 2022 Fox News article "Christians point to genetics breakthroughs to show Adam and Eve are not incompatible with evolution." Life finds a way, but the Satanic Skeptic finds this book unconvincing…

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Episode 13 - Ritual Magic 46:17

4y ago46:17

46:17

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines ritual magic, specifically, whether or not there is reason to believe ritual magic works by way of human will influencing the physical world, or, does ritual magic work on the individual as self-transformative psychodrama?By JD Sword

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Episode 12 - The Satanic Temple 45:09

4y ago45:09

45:09

On this episode, the Satanic Skeptic examines The Satanic Temple, a political activist group who also claim to be Satanists- but are they really? We'll be discussing some of their more well-known publicity stunts such as the Baphomet Statue and their After School Satan program, whether or not their strategy is actually effective, and finally, wheth…

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Episode 11 - Religion Makes People Feel Better, But Tax Churches Anyway 15:00

4y ago15:00

15:00

On this mini-episode, the Satanic Skeptic reviews a paper published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, "National Religiosity Eases the Psychological Burden of Poverty." Is religiosity, the degree of religious belief, likely a major factor that makes poor people feel better? Is that true of both developing and developed (first world…

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Episode 10 - The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel 49:12

4+ y ago49:12

49:12

JD Sword, the Satanic Skeptic, examines the case of Anneliese Michel, who's exorcism inspired the movie "The Exorcism of Emily Rose." Diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy, was this a case of neurological disorder or diabolical possession?By JD Sword

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Episode Nine - The Exorcist 1:00:53

4+ y ago1:00:53

1:00:53

On this LONG overdue episode, I examine the true story behind William Peter Blatty's novel and film, The Exorcist, and reveal the true identity of the boy who inspired the character of Regan.By JD Sword

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Episode Eight - Exorcism and Demonic Possession 1:04:00

5y ago1:04:00

1:04:00

On this episode, we're going to begin a new series exploring exorcism and demonic possession! What are the origins of the practice of exorcism or belief in demonic possession? How can you tell if someone is possessed by a demon? Most importantly, are exorcisms really that bad if they make people feel better?…

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Episode Seven - Recovered or False Memories of Satanic Ritual Abuse? 58:27

5y ago58:27

58:27

This episode is dedicated to the memories of James "The Amazing" Randi and Anton Szandor LaVey, both incredible conjurors who forever changed my life and helped set me on the path to diabolical doubt. Concluding the series on the Satanic Panic, on this episode we'll look at the long debate between accusations of recovered memories of Satanic Ritual…

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Episode Six - QAnon 50:46

5y ago50:46

50:46

On this episode, let's talk about QAnon, because hey, everything else 80s is making a comeback, why not the Satanic Panic? QAnon believers argue that politicians and celebrities such as Hillary Clinton, George Soros, and Tom Hanks are all part of a pedophile, devil worshipping cult that sucks the essence out of babies, and macho man Donald Trump, w…

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Episode Five - The McMartin Trial 57:41

5y ago57:41

57:41

On this episode, Citizen Sword examines one of the most infamous Satanic Ritual Abuse day-care court cases of the Satanic Panic, as well as one of the longest and most expensive criminal cases in American history- the McMartin Trial! Examine the claims and evidence put forward as proof of secret tunnels beneath the preschool and ritual sites where …

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Episode Four - Satan's Underground 1:02:06

5+ y ago1:02:06

1:02:06

On this episode, Citizen Sword examines the most famous of the copy-cat memoirs of Satanic Ritual Abuse to be published in the wake of "Michelle Remembers"- Lauren Stratford's "Satan's Underground." A lurid tale of Satanic cultists, sexual perversion, pornography, and...Nazis?By JD Sword

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Episode Two - The Satan Seller 36:44

5+ y ago36:44

36:44

On this episode, we're going to investigate the book that became the foundation for the Satanic cult conspiracy, Mike Warnke's "The Satan Seller." Published in 1972, it contains the lurid tale of how "America's Number One Christian Comedian" descended into drug addiction and Satanism before being saved and converting to Christianity. Or does it? We…

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Episode Three - Michelle Remembers 56:41

5+ y ago56:41

56:41

On this episode, we're going to examine the memoir which gave birth to the myth of Satanic Ritual Abuse and became the template for future cases of SRA during the Satanic Panic, "Michelle Remembers." Published in 1980 by Dr. Lawrence Pazder and Michelle Smith, the book allegedly recounts how Michelle recovered repressed memories of childhood abuse …

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Episode One - The Satanic Panic 42:30

5+ y ago42:30

42:30

On the first episode of The Devil in the Details, we're going to examine the Satanic Panic- a case of mass hysteria that swept across North America during the 1980's and early 90's and involved claims of organized cults of Satanists ritualistically abusing and sacrificing children. We'll look at an overview of what the Satanic Panic was, then go de…

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#2 - What is Love? 51:22

9+ y ago51:22

51:22

Is love a fancy or a feeling? We don't know if Hartley Coleridge ever received an answer to that question, but we'll give it and other questions about love our best shot in our second super candid, not-at-all-edited episode. We hope you'll join in the conversation.By Olivia & JD Ard

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#1 - Introductions & Etc. 42:20

9+ y ago42:20

42:20

Who are we, and why should you listen to what we have to say? That's an excellent question. Join us for our inaugural episode in which we introduce ourselves and talk about healthy conflict management within the bounds of marriage.By Olivia & JD Ard

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#0 - Behind the Scenes Sneak Peek 1:13

9+ y ago1:13

1:13

Here's an outtake from our first recording session, in which we have no idea what we're doing. First full episode coming soon!By Olivia & JD Ard