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.

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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.

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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.

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