To Dance the Witches Circle Again

About this episode

A story of witchcraft and resistance as Bessie Smith faces a terrible threat to her inner circle and freedom.

"Be happy while ye live, for ye’ll be a long time dead." Something terrible is wending its way to Bessie Smith's small cottage, something that no amount of warding spells or charms may avert. As her inner circle is ripped apart from her, and terrible lies become the music of the land, she asks one question: Will she ever dance freely again? A story of witchcraft and resistance by Morgan Sylvia, read by Jessica Taige with sound design by Fred Greenhalgh, music by Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Host: Jessica Taige

Topics covered

• witchcraft
• resistance
• music
• lies
• inner circle
• freedom

Keywords

• witchcraft
• Bessie Smith
• Morgan Sylvia
• resistance
• music
• warding spells
• lies
• freedom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Blue Dot Sessions

More episodes of Undertow: Familiar Haunts

• Don't Tell Alice · May 8, 2026 · 29 min
• Banish, Part 2 · December 26, 2025 · 35 min
• Banish, Part 1 · December 19, 2025 · 32 min
• Gargoyles · December 5, 2025 · 34 min
• The Bloody Life of RM Renfield, Part 3 · November 28, 2025 · 42 min
• The Bloody Life of RM Renfield, Part 2 · November 20, 2025 · 44 min