Contraband is a show discussing dangerous ideas, the minds and histories behind them, and the forces that seek to suppress and eliminate them.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/3/1/3/5ca98bf5-de81-4717-84e6-ff4a917aceb8_3_-_witchcraft_and_witch_hunts.mp3

In this episode Mitch explores witchcraft and witch hunts. What is witchcraft? Why have witchy women been targeted for persecution throughout history? Historical examples of witches, witchcraft, and witch hunts are examined, as well as some examples of modern versions of the practice. And, Mitch is joined by special guest Emma Julianne for a discussion on the gender issues involved in witch hunts. Emma is a Colorado based poet whose work can be found and followed on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/LadyJuliannee" rel="nofollow">@ladyjuliannee</a> and on Youtube <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@LadyJulianne" rel="nofollow">@LadyJulianne</a>Follow Contraband on Instagram <a href="http://@contraband_podcast" rel="nofollow">@contraband_podcast</a>

3. Witchcraft and Witch Hunts

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/2/14/8/53e10ad9-e589-4100-ad78-350e57a64f41__and_parody_-_those_who_fuel_the_fire_-_2-2-25.mp3

In this episode Mitch takes a look at examples of satire throughout history, from early forms of the genre to modern examples and the response to them. In addition to providing examples of satire done well, these stories examine the responses of power structures to the humor and criticism aimed at them by satirists. In the United States, satirists are probably not going to be tortured or imprisoned for publishing songs and comics critical of the government--not so in other countries around the world. Mitch looks at the stories of Russian band Pussy Riot, Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani, as well as two examples when satirical works did indeed find their creators landed in the American court system.Works CitedBonatch, Laken. “Aristophanes: Get to Know the Master of Ancient Greek Comedy.” The Collector, 14 Apr. 2024, www.thecollector.com/aristophanes-ancient-greek-comedy/. ‌“Free Atena, Imprisoned for Drawing Cartoons in Iran.” @AmnestyUK, 2015, web.archive.org/web/20150704040410/amnesty.org.uk/actions/free-atena-farghadani-iran-prison-drawing-cartoons-artist. ‌Goldhill, Simon. &#34;Good dirty fun: Some of the difficulties and pleasures of translating the plays of Aristophanes.&#34; TLS. Times Literary Supplement, no. 5918, 2 Sept. 2016, pp. 9+. Gale General OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A635435637/GPS?u=denver&amp;sid=bookmark-GPS&amp;xid=a13e0784. Harding, Luke. “Pussy Riot Release New Protest Song: ‘Prison Is a Weapon.’” The Guardian, The Guardian, 3 Feb. 2016, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/03/russia-pussy-riot-latest-punk-protest-prison-selective-weapon" rel="nofollow">www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/03/russia-pussy-riot-latest-punk-protest-prison-selective-weapon</a>. “Hustler Magazine, Inc. V. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988).” Justia Law, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/485/46/. ‌“Iranian Artist Goes on Trial for Cartoon Mocking Draft Law.” BBC News, 19 May 2015, <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32794053" rel="nofollow">www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32794053</a>. “Novak v. Parma.” Institute for Justice, ij.org/case/novak-v-parma/. “Novak v. City of Parma, Ohio, No. 21-3290 (6th Cir. 2022).” Justia Law, law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca6/21-3290/21-3290-2022-04-29.html. ‌“Pussy Riot - CHAIKA.” YouTube, YouTube Video, 3 Feb. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=VakUHHUSdf8. Shaw, Anny. “Iranian Artist Atena Farghadani Freed after More than a Year in Prison.” The Art Newspaper - International Art News and Events, 4 May 2016, www.theartnewspaper.com/2016/05/04/iranian-artist-atena-farghadani-freed-after-more-than-a-year-in-prison. Taylor, Tom. “At War with Russian Oppression: A Brief History of Pussy Riot and Eastern Punk.” Far out Magazine, 22 Mar. 2022, faroutmagazine.co.uk/pussy-riot-and-eastern-punk-at-war-russia/. Trainor, John Hayward. Ubu’s Moment: Four Resurrected Histories of the 1896 Premiere of Alfred Jarry’s Ubu Roi. 2024.

2. Satire and Outrage: Those Who Fuel the Fire

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/2/3/8/40a36303-9309-404f-ab16-30aea6a68b56_1_-_anti-war_and_resistance_-_1-22-25.mp3

Since wars have been fought, there have been those who oppose them. In this inaugural episode Mitch looks at early anti-war writings and compares them to modern resistance, with examples from World War 1, World War 2, and Vietnam.SourcesCox, Rory. “The Medieval Pacifist.” History Today, vol. 60, no. 8, Aug. 2010, pp. 25–27. EBSCOhost, research.ebsco.com/linkprocessor/plink?id=77f40ddc-428e-38fb-bc17-f41a6c0b585f.DeWitt, Petra. &#34;&#39;Clear and Present Danger&#39;: The Legacy of the 1917 Espionage Act in the United States.&#34; Historical Reflections/Réflexions Historiques, vol. 42, no. 2, summer 2016, pp. 115+. Gale Academic OneFile, dx.doi.org.denverlibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.3167/hrrh.2016.420207. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.Howlett, Charles F. “Studying America’s Struggle Against War: An Historical Perspective.” History Teacher, vol. 36, no. 3, May 2003, p. 297. EBSCOhost, https://doi-org.denverlibrary.idm.oclc.org/10.2307/1555689.Lewis, Jerry M., and Thomas R. Hensley. “The May 4 Shootings at Kent State University: The Search for Historical Accuracy.” Kent State University, 1998, www.kent.edu/may-4-historical-accuracy.National Constitution Center. “Espionage Act of 1917 and Sedition Act of 1918 (1917-1918) | the National Constitution Center.” National Constitution Center – Constitutioncenter.org, constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/espionage-act-of-1917-and-sedition-act-of-1918-1917-1918.“So Ein Herrlicher Sonniger Tag, Und Ich Muss Gehen.” Mythoselser.de, 2025, www.mythoselser.de/texts/scholl-gebel.htm. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.U.S. Reports: Debs v. United States, 249 U.S. 211 (1919). <a href="https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep249/usrep249211/usrep249211.pdf" rel="nofollow">https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/usrep/usrep249/usrep249211/usrep249211.pdf</a>Wittenstein, George J. “The History Place - Points of View: Memories of the White Rose - Part One.” Www.historyplace.com, 1997, www.historyplace.com/pointsofview/white-rose1.htm.‌Wolfson, Andrew. “Muhammad Ali Lost Everything in Opposing the Vietnam War. But in 1968, He Triumphed.” USA TODAY, Courier Journal, 19 Feb. 2018, www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/19/1968-project-muhammad-ali-vietnam-war/334759002/.‌Zirin, Dave. “June 20, 1967: Muhammad Ali Convicted for Refusing the Vietnam Draft.” Zinn Education Project, 20 June 2011, www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/-muhammad-ali-convicted-refusing-vietnam-draft.

1. Anti-War Resistance

Contraband is a show discussing dangerous ideas, the minds and histories behind them, and the forces that seek to suppress and eliminate them.