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The SHOCKING and HORNY History Behind Exorcisms (Yes, Really)

2025-10-30 Entertainment
655.6k
21.0k
1.6k
Bailey Sarian
Bailey Sarian
8.0m subscribers

Dark History of Exorcisms: From Possessed Nuns to Viral Priests

Uncover the real, frequently bizarre, history behind exorcisms across centuries, from mass hysteria in 17th-century convents to modern social media spectacles concerning demonic battles.

Short Summary

  • Document the frightening 1632 mass possession of nuns in Loudun, France, driven by socio-religious tension and internal conflict.
  • Trace the influence of the true story of Ronald Hunkler which inspired The Exorcist, triggering widespread public fear and even new psychological diagnoses.
  • Examine how modern exorcisms have evolved into performative, highly publicized events, sometimes driven by social media fame and branding. This episode provides a shocking look at how society addresses the inexplicable, blending documented historical events with cultural reactions rooted in belief and fear.

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Description

Give your cat the food they deserve! For a limited time, because you are a Dark History listener, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/DARKHISTORY! One last time: That’s 60 percent off your first order, plus free shipping, when you head to Smalls.com/DARKHISTORY! The best way to cook just got better. Go to HelloFresh.com/DARKHISTORY10FM now to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. That’s HelloFresh.com/DARKHISTORY10FM to Get 10 Free Meals + free breakfast for Life. Stop putting off those doctors appointments and go to Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY to find and instantly book a top-rated doctor today. That’s Zocdoc.com/DARKHISTORY. ________ Hi friends. Happy Thursday. More importantly... 🎃 Happy Halloween!! 👻 Grab your holiest water and close the curtains, because I've got the perfect episode to button up spooky season. We are diving headfirst into the real Dark History of Exorcisms — and it’s crazier than the movies ever showed us. From a convent full of “possessed” nuns shouting filthy things in 1600s France (yep, horny demons and all), to the actual story that inspired The Exorcist, to modern-day influencer priests turning demonic battles into viral moments online… this episode has everything: mass hysteria, scandal, religion, fame, and a whole lot of WTF. So light a candle, clutch your pillowcase full of candy, and get ready to question what’s real, what’s hysteria, and what happens when... the devil goes viral. ________ FOLLOW ME AROUND Tik Tok: https://bit.ly/3e3jL9v Instagram: http://bit.ly/2nbO4PR Facebook: http://bit.ly/2mdZtK6 Twitter: http://bit.ly/2yT4BLV Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2mVpXnY Youtube: http://bit.ly/1HGw3Og Goodreads: http://bit.ly/3IVnO7N Snapchat: https://bit.ly/3cC0V9d Discord: https://discord.gg/BaileySarian RECOMMEND A STORY HERE: [email protected] Business Related Emails: [email protected] Business Related Mail: Bailey Sarian 4400 W. Riverside Dr., Ste 110-300 Burbank, CA 91505 ________ This podcast is Executive Produced by: Bailey Sarian and Joey Scavuzzo Head Writer: Allyson Philobos Senior Writer: Katie Burris Research provided by: Xander Elmore Special thank you to our Historical Consultant: Joseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University and author of “The Penguin Book of Exorcisms”. Director: Brian Jaggers Edited by: Julien Perez Additional Editing: Maria Norris Hair: Angel Gonzalez Makeup: Roni Herrera #darkhistory #BaileySarian #halloween #exorcism #theexorcist #possession #truestory #creepyhistory #haunted #nuns #masshysteria #historypodcast #spookyseason

Top Comments (10)

@amandabillig3080 2025-10-30

When I was a kid, my mom told me I was not allowed to watch scary movies, but when I was probably eight or nine, I decided to rebel against her, and I watched the exorcist at my dad’s house. and told my dad it was fine with her. After I watched the movie I didn’t sleep for like three days and in order to teach me a lesson, my grandfather hid underneath my bed and shook it like that scene in the movie where her bed is shaking everywhere. Traumatized for life.

1.6k 54 replies
@ariahv 2025-10-30

Okay but wait your hair is super cute today!!! 😭❤️

761 8 replies
@BeesRecipes 2025-10-30

BAILEY when you did the witch cackle, my cat came running over because he thought it was another cat 😂

679 18 replies
@CuriouserandCuriouser 2025-10-30

Bailey + Halloween = PERFECTION! 🎃💀🧟‍♂️🦹🏻‍♀️🧛🏻‍♀️🕸️🦇🕷️⛓️⚰️🪦🖤

421 1 replies
@that70schicken 2025-10-31

Fun fact, I live 30 minutes away from where Ronald had his exorcism. There’s rumors that construction workers try laying concrete in the basement in a building in that area (I can’t remember which one) but no matter how many times they lay it flat, it cracks everywhere. Could be environment related, but pretty creepy right?

241 2 replies
@MadameLeota 2025-10-30

My mom saw The Exorcist in the movie theatre when it came out. She was about 22. She told me she had to sleep with the lights on for a month. That movie shocked society as nothing like that had ever been created.

230 6 replies
@BeckyBurton990 2025-12-03

I read a funny story, can’t remember the origin. But basically a woman read “The Exorcist” while on vacation at the beach. It scared her so much that she didn’t finish it, and she threw it into the ocean. As a prank, her daughter-in-law got a new copy of the book and ran it under a faucet, then put it in the woman’s house. Hysterics ensued. Great prank.

134 1 replies
@Weebybs 2025-11-04

Sharing spooky stories around Christmas used to be quite the tradition.. that could be why horror movies always come out around Xmas. The song 'It's the most wonderful time of the year' has that line "they'll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long long ago". What else is there to do around a hearth when it's dark and cold lol

130 1 replies
@elysamag 2025-11-03

You asked about horror movies after Christmas ? It’s because from Christmas to New Years is when a lot of people are off work, with families and friends. So they can watch them together and in theatres.

30
@2good2betrue66 2025-11-01

"Nun fight!" "It's like a fight club...but for nuns." 😂😂 Bailey- your sense of humor rocks!

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