Remarkable Providences

Remarkable Providences is an exploration of Puritans and pettiness, magic and misogyny, gospel and government, and, of course, the Salem Witch Trials.

Feuds play out amongst righteously unfun Christian colonists in a sub-suburban Massachusetts Bay village looking to make a name for itself, and the only way to do that is to get a spiritual life coach. The result must rank as one of the most disastrous job searches in history.

A petty, neurotic, spiteful village in need of a cheap win finds its match with a petty, neurotic, spiteful man in need of a cheap win.The importance of clear and equitable contract negotiation is impressed.  Portrait of Samuel Parris: Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

The Parris girls are afflicted; we talk about what that means and why that matters, and debunk a few common theories about it while taking the long way down Lay Off Tituba, Y'all Lane.

We read both Mather Reports and take a look at some of the cases of supernaturally-themed bigoted political murders that Salem residents might have seen before in this ostentatiously self-titled episode.

Oh my god. I can't believe this is the real episode title. We discuss the very scientific method that was used to track the witch afflicting Betty and Abigail, and Samuel brings a bunch of dumbasses to town to ask for advice. The first targets of what would become the trials are named.

This week, we're taking a deeper look at what Puritans mean by "witch," what we mean by "witch," why that's different, and why that matters.

The town sits back and eats popcorn while three women fight for their lives against an imaginary charge they cannot refute.

While Tituba fights for her life from the witness stand, we take a step back to discuss slavery. What fun!

Heads up for some graphic depictions of colonial violence at 04:30-05:05 and 13:30-14:15. War haunts the Puritans of Salem. Trapped by their own hand in an endless cycle of bloody conflict against indigenous people, their conception of a Satanic enemy blurs with their image of the people they slaughter by the hundreds. Are the Puritans the bad guys? Additional Voices Josh Rubino as Robert Roules James Oliva as John Hathorne Danielle Shemaiah as Tituba

Panic increases as the accusers hone in on a new target, shocking the village. An old face returns to Salem. 

We try to understand what Puritanism is, and what it isn't, while the people of Salem turn on one of their inner circle. Benjamin Franklin's aunt throws a shoe.  This episode features the voice of Chad Ellis.

In this season finale, we explore the family at the heart of the 1692 trials, and learn some valuable lessons, like: don't sue your family members

As nights grow towards their darkest, we humbly supplant our usual content slot to an episode of our Patreon-exclusive dive into the 2014 WGN America series Salem. It's a bit like the Witch Trials, if (it's almost entirely unlike them, but) it had sPoOoKy and sexy real witches around your Cottons Mather and Johns Alden, kinda like Riverdale meets Sleepy Hollow. Join our Patreon for a whole season of RKP:AD now, plus a whole second season of Salem japes coming real soon!

We're taking a bit of a break to finish this season of Remarkable Providences, so we're bringing you another episode of our Patreon side-podcast, Remarkable Providences: After Dark! You can get a whole season of episodes with any contribution to our Patreon!

We're back with a new batch of stories from the most toxic church group in all of American history (which is saying something). If you're new, start at episode 1. Accusers set their eye on a bedridden grandma. Also, they arrest a four-year-old for being in league with the Devil, and if you've met any kids that age, you would too! We use levity to keep composure in these tragic circumstances like this! Featuring James Oliva, Kristen DiMercurio, Vin Ernst, and Wil Williams. 

The villagers begin to question the validity of the witch panic. Meanwhile, John Proctor's desire to pummel little girls is only matched by Kate's desire to pummel Arthur Miller.

Mary Warren's note tried to make things in Salem better. They got much, much worse. Especially for her.

Abigail Hobbs wants to live deliciously.

CW: This episode contains brief mentions of suicide at approx. 24:20-24:27 Accusations spread like a plague, or a haunted fog. Nehemiah Abbot gets off in front of everyone.

Samuel Parris dodges a bullet as the town declares George Burroughs the worst minister Salem's ever had. The crisis claims its first victim.  We'd like to thank The Iron Heel for their support! Check them out wherever you get your podcasts.

We're excited to bring you the latest product of The Whisperforge! ROGUE RUNNERS is an actual play podcast which adapts your favorite games and other media to tabletop RPGs: delivering collaborative, improvised narratives blended with gorgeous audio storytelling. Volume 1: “In the Blood” parodies roguelike HADES while playing it as a 5th Edition D&D campaign. It tells the story of four wretched shades battling their way out of the Underworld for one more chance at life, set in the world of the original game with a new story. In the Blood meditates on the questions of punishment, redemption, and making the world better within unjust systems. Fans of mythology, queer fantasy, and improv comedy will find a lot to love in the show. While the adventurers roll dice and the show makes many loving references to the source material which inspired it, audiences need neither be fans of HADES nor D&D to fall in love with our four player characters and cast of zany mythological NPCs.

As the state intervenes more and more in the witch crisis, we learn why it was allowed to spiral out of control.