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#4 in Apple's US top episodes · Nov 1, 2026
Selects: Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know
An episode of Stuff You Should Know · · 50 min
A classic episode returns to the Salem witchcraft trials and separates what seems known from what is still a mystery.
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What this episode is about
This "Selects" release brings back an earlier Stuff You Should Know episode, which the notes call a classic, about the Salem witchcraft trials. The notes open with a problem of hindsight: some three centuries later, it is tempting to settle on sweeping explanations for why the people of Salem Village persecuted their neighbors and sent some of them to their deaths.
The notes suggest the episode tries to avoid that kind of shortcut. While the trials have turned into a staple of American history, the notes say the reasons Salem lost its mind are still not understood. The hosts set out to sort what they think is known about the events from what is not, and the title promises a story stranger than most people expect.
In this episode
- Why Salem villagers persecuted and executed their neighbors
- The risk of oversimplifying events from three centuries away
- A story the title calls "More Bonkers Than You Know"
- What is thought to be known, and what remains unclear
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Questions about this episode
What is the Salem episode of Stuff You Should Know about?
It revisits the Salem witchcraft trials, looking at why the villagers persecuted and executed their neighbors and separating what the hosts think is known from what is not.
Is this a new episode?
It is labeled "Selects," and the notes describe it as a classic episode.
How long is “Selects: Salem Witchcraft Trials: More Bonkers Than You Know”?
The episode runs 50 min and was published on October 31, 2026.
Can I listen to Stuff You Should Know in my browser without an account?
Yes. You can play episodes right on this page, or open the show in Podcasts AM, a free web app: no account and nothing to install. Shows you follow are kept in your browser.
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