Witch, Please: The First Irish Witch Trial | Petronilla de Meath

Being the middle child can be hard, especially when your older brother is King Edward IV of England and your younger brother is the future King Richard III.George Plantagenet, Duke of Clarence, was determined to make a name for himself. Unfortunately, he spent much of his adult life switching sides, making questionable decisions, and keeping his royal family guessing about his loyalty.Eventually, George’s luck ran out. His brother, the king, gave him one final choice, and the story of what happened next involves a rather unusual method of execution and a whole lot of Malmsey wine.Talk about a pour decision.Support the show

In part two of our season finale, Robespierre reaches the peak of his power as the Revolution descends into the Reign of Terror. He sends thousands to the guillotine in the name of protecting the Republic. But as fear consumes France, Robespierre's allies become his enemies, and the architect of the Terror finds himself facing the very machine he used against so many others. In our final episode, we discuss his dramatic fall from power and the execution that brought one of history's bloodiest chapters to an end.Support the show

Maximilien Robespierre believed he could save France. A poor boy turned lawyer, he built his reputation defending the forgotten and fighting for equality. But when revolution came, his desire to create a perfect republic led him down a dangerous path. In part one of our season finale, we follow Robespierre’s rise from an ambitious young politician to one of the men responsible for the downfall of the monarchy, setting the stage for the Terror that would follow.Support the show

Agrippina the Younger, also known as Julia Agrippina, was one of the most powerful women in ancient Rome. She played a pivotal role in securing the throne for her son, the infamous (and villainous) Emperor Nero, only for their relationship to end in one of history’s greatest betrayals. Life in ancient Rome was an ongoing story of ambition, revenge, death, and execution. But when it comes to Agrippina’s own fate, the answer may not be so clear. Was her death a formal and legal execution? Or was it just straight murder? Listen, weigh the evidence, and decide for yourself.Support the show

In 1324, the town of Kilkenny became the setting for Ireland's first recorded witch trial. When wealthy noblewoman Alice Kyteler was accused of witchcraft, her servant Petronilla de Meath was swept into the investigation. Rumors of mysterious deaths and dark magic soon captured the attention of church authorities, turning a local scandal into a deadly trial. In this episode, we explore the legal case that would leave a lasting mark on Irish history and help shape the future of witch trials.Support the show

The Great Fire of London in 1666 left people not only homeless and terrified, but desperate for answers. Accepting that a catastrophic disaster could begin with a simple accident wasn't nearly satisfying enough. London wanted to know who started the fire.In this episode, we dive into the bizarre case of Robert Hubert, the Frenchman who somehow became London's prime suspect after the city went up in flames. There's just one problem: the evidence against him was remarkably thin. In fact, parts of it blatantly contradicted his confession.This may be our first episode where the accused practically had to convince the authorities to convict him. Yet despite the glaring holes in the case, London got the villain it wanted.Support the show

In 1888, hangings in America were falling out of favor, and a task force was assembled to find a more “humane” method of capital punishment. At the very same time, electricity was transforming the modern world , and the infamous Current Wars were raging.On one side was George Westinghouse, backed by Nikola Tesla, advocating for AC (alternating current). On the other was Thomas Edison, pushing for the widespread use of DC (direct current). When the electric chair emerged as a possible new method of execution, the debate over which type of current it would use became a deadly serious issue.Enter William Kemmler, the first person in history sentenced to die in the electric chair. What followed was a gruesome spectacle that horrified witnesses, fueled propaganda in the Current Wars, and changed executions in America forever.Support the show

In the final, chaotic days of the French Revolution, a small community of Carmelite nuns made a decision that would echo through history.In this episode, we tell the haunting and deeply moving story of the Martyrs of Compiègne—sixteen women who refused to abandon their religious vows, even under the looming threat of the guillotine. As the Reign of Terror intensified, they were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death simply for living out their faith. What followed at the scaffold became unforgettable.This is not just a story about death, but a story of courage, and the price one is willing to pay to remain faithful to their beliefs.Support the show

In 1833, the quiet town of Morristown, New Jersey became the site of one of the most disturbing crimes in early American history. When French immigrant Antoine Le Blanc arrived in the United States looking for work, he found a job with the Sayre family. Within weeks, the arrangement ended in brutal violence.Le Blanc went down in history not only for committing the town’s only triple homicide, but also for what happened after his execution. What was done to his body shocked the community and has continued to fascinate historians and true crime enthusiasts for nearly two centuries. His story is one of murder, punishment, and a postmortem fate far more disturbing than the crime itself.Support the show

We’re joined by historian, author, and podcaster Adam Pennington for an in-depth conversation on power, lineage, and survival in Tudor England.Adam is the creator and host of "The Tudor Chest" website and podcast series, where he brings a fresh and thoughtful perspective to one of history’s most dramatic periods. He is also the author of the highly praised Henry VIII and the Plantagenet Poles: The Rise and Fall of a Dynasty, which examines the perilous fate of the Pole family during the reign of Henry VIII.In this discussion, we examine how the Poles came to be viewed as a serious threat to the Tudor crown, resulting in the Exeter Conspiracy and the execution of eight individuals, along with twelve arrests. We also take a closer look at one of the most shocking moments of the period: the brutal execution of Margaret Pole.Support the show