Want to create an interactive transcript for this episode?
Podcast: Satan is my Superhero
Episode: Catholic Exorcisms: Turning Trauma into Theater Since 1614
Description: Some call it “spiritual warfare.” We call it centuries of trauma reenactments performed by bad cosplayers with holy water. The catholic church has been staging exorcisms since 1614 — turning mental illness, grief, and hysteria into holy horror shows for the masses. In this episode, we dig into the church’s obsession with exorcism, from Emma Schmidt and Roland Doe to Clara Germana Cele — the so-called “true stories” that inspired The Exorcist. We unravel how priests, nuns, and the Vatican mistook trauma for demons, weaponized fear for faith, and built a billion-dollar horror franchise in the process. You’ll learn about:Th...