You're Wrong About the Satanic Panic

February 6, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: Casual podcast interview with hosts bantering playfully before diving into deep historical analysis.
The Key Players:
- Hosts: Ben Brock Johnson and Emery (likely Emery Song), with sharp, witty chemistry—playful devilish puns like "hell hath frozen over" set a fun tone amid heavy topics.
- Guest: Sarah Marshall, host of You're Wrong About and new series The Devil You Know. Famous for unpacking misunderstood cultural histories; her 15-year obsession with the Satanic Panic makes her a compelling expert.
The Vibe: Fun and educational with dark humor—light-hearted banter contrasts intense 80s hysteria, evoking intrigue and reflection.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Sarah Marshall**
2 (02:47) **Sarah's Origin Story with the Satanic Panic**
3 (04:22) **Cultural and Political Rise of the Panic**
4 (06:35) **Defining a Moral Panic**
5 (09:02) **Satanic Panic in the Internet Age**
6 (10:14) **Modern Moral Panics and Social Media**
7 (12:56) **Fears of Children and Adult Responsibility**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

In the 1980s, a moral panic swept across America. Parents, prosecutors, and talk show hosts became convinced that devil worshippers were hiding in plain sight, abusing children at daycares, performing ritualistic sacrifices, and corrupting the innocent.

Sarah Marshall of You're Wrong About has a new podcast about this period of Satanic Panic called The Devil You Know. She talks to Ben and Amory about the cultural forces that turned unfounded fears into a nationwide hysteria, and how would the Satanic Panic might have unfolded differently in today's age of social media.

Credits: This episode was produced by Amory Sivertson with assistance from Grace Tatter. It was co-hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson, and edited by Meg Cramer. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus.

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