Tituba and the Fear That Made a Witch

About this episode

The episode explores the story of Tituba, the first person accused of witchcraft in 1692, within the context of fear, race, and Puritan beliefs.

WE'RE BACK!In the first episode of our second season, we trace the story of Tituba, an enslaved Indigenous woman and the first person accused of witchcraft in 1692. With the help of historian Matt Alschbach, we examine her story within the broader context of seventeenth-century folk medicine, race, and Puritan theology, exploring how fear breeds suspicion, and how suspicion so often settles on the margins. If you’re interested in joining host Greg Houle for his live online course, The Salem Witch Trials: Fear, Myth & Meaning, you can register here. You can also explore Greg Houle’s historical novel, The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials available in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats.

People in this episode

Host: Greg Houle

Guest: Matt Alschbach

Topics covered

• Tituba
• witchcraft
• seventeenth-century
• folk medicine
• race
• Puritan theology
• fear and suspicion

Keywords

• Tituba
• witchcraft
• Salem Witch Trials
• Puritan
• folk medicine
• race
• suspicion
• historical novel

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: The Salem Witch Trials: Fear, Myth & Meaning

Books & works: The Putnams of Salem: A Novel of Power and Betrayal During the Salem Witch Trials

More episodes of The Salem Witch Trials Podcast

• The Man Who Put Salem Back Together · May 5, 2026 · 26 min
• Welcome Back to Salem: Season 2 Preview · November 27, 2025 · 4 min
• BONUS: The Putnams of Salem: The Audiobook · October 10, 2025 · 14 min
• A Reflection on Our First Season · March 27, 2025 · 10 min
• Suspicion and Fear Consume Wilmot Redd · March 3, 2025 · 21 min
• The Patriarchy Takes Down Ann Pudeator · February 18, 2025 · 17 min